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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University soccer squads have their final road doubleheader of the season on Saturday, and each team's final Sunshine State Conference road match, when the women and men face the University of Tampa, at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
 
For the women, this will be the next-to-last road contest of the year, with only Lynn upcoming, in an out-of-conference matchup on Oct. 28. The very next match on the men's side will be their final travel day before three at home to end the year, when they take on Flagler in St. Augustine next Wednesday, Oct. 22.
 
Before all of that, each team will match up on Saturday against the Spartans. The women's squad (4-5-0, 1-4-0 SSC) takes to the pitch first – and for the second time this season – against a Tampa team that received votes in the most recent NSCAA poll and is 9-2-2 (3-2 SSC). The Shark men, 5-4-1 (2-3-0 SSC), will also meet a Tampa team that is receiving votes but is below NSU in the conference standings, at 1-3-1 in the SSC (and 7-4-2 overall).
 
The men will look to rebound after falling at Rollins in an extra time fire fight on Wednesday, 4-3. The loss came at the Barker Family Stadium, a brutal setting for visiting teams in which Rollins only has one loss this season.  The iconic Pepin Stadium in downtown Tampa will be no different and the Sharks will have to bring their all if they want to come out with three points.

NSU is 2-3-1 in Tampa since joining the SSC in 2004, but did go undefeated in their first five conference matches with the Spartans, winning four and tying one. In last year's match at Pepin Stadium, NSU fought Tampa to a scoreless draw. Andrea Giombetti (Sr., Rome, Italy) recorded five saves in the shutout.
 
Offensively, the Sharks and Spartans will be evenly matched Saturday. Tampa has a slight 19-17 edge in goals this season, but they have been less efficient, with 185 shots taken, the second-highest total in the SSC. The Spartans have also played a sternly disciplined style of soccer so far, ranking second in fewest offsides (19) and yellow cards (14). Tampa goalkeeper Zak Downes has also been a blessing, allowing 12 goals in all 1107:24 minutes of the 13 Spartans' matches. He currently leads the SSC with 67 saves and ranks second in the SSC in both goals against average (0.88) and save percentage (0.848).
 
The women were edged by Rollins on Wednesday as well, by the score of 2-0. They look to snap a two-game in-conference slide against one of the most prolific offenses in the SSC.
 
Tampa ranks first in shots (285) and second in points (129), goals (41) and assists (47). Their defense is nothing to sneeze at, tying for first in goals against average (0.67) and only allowing nine goals in 13 matches. Since starting the season on an incredible 7-0-2 pace, outscoring opponents 35-2, the Spartans have slowed down a bit against other SSC teams. UT is 2-2-0 in their last four matches, with a scoring differential of -1, as they have been outscored 7-6.
 
Cici Gonzalez tops the team with 13 goals and 32 points, both of which also lead the SSC, while Lauren Moore has a team-high 10 assists, good for second in the conference. Eight of Gonzalez's goals have been game-winners, a total that doubles anyone else in the SSC. Goalkeeper Caroline Frykgard, who has started all 13 matches, owns an impressive 0.67 goals against average, ranking second in the conference, to go along with her 0.778 save percentage. 
 
Earlier this year, Tampa handed the Sharks their first loss of the season, 2-0 in a non-conference tilt at the NSU Soccer Complex on Sept. 20. Gonzalez's goal in the 35th minute and Gabby Russo's in the 76th provided the final margin. NSU had four shots on goal, all saved by Frykgard, who posted the victory.

Fans can watch live video streaming of each match HERE, with live statistics throughout HERE.