FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University men's soccer team (6-6-1, 3-4-0 SSC) clinched a spot in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament Saturday by defeating the Eckerd Tritons (3-10-1, 1-5-1 SSC), 3-1, at the NSU Soccer Complex.
 
NSU led for the majority of the night, but three goals in the final five minutes made this one of the most dramatic matches at the NSU Soccer Complex in recent years. A goal from Victor Cardoso (Sr., Sao Paulo, Brazil) in the fourth minute put the Sharks ahead for over 80 minutes, before Eckerd's Nick Murawski equalized. NSU would dig deep and score the game-winner in the 88th minute on a Guido Riffeser (Jr., Bolzano, Italy) free kick, before Victor Nirennold (So., Rennes, France) punctuated the night with an 89th minute score.
 
The first goal came in a flash and set the tone for the rest of the match. Vincenzo Padula (Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) played a great ball into the box to Cardoso, who fired it past the goalkeeper from the left side. It was Cardoso's team-best fourth goal of the season.
 
NSU held a 10-3 shots advantage in the first half but could not put a second score on the board. Eckerd's attack was nonexistent for the majority of the period, but the Tritons came on late to pressure NSU's defense. The Tritons continued to build momentum at the start of the second half and nearly caught the Sharks off guard early. In the 49th minute, Murawski went one-v-one with Andrea Giombetti (Sr., Rome, Italy) and shot from within 15 yards of the goal. The ball slid past Giombetti, but the senior was able to disrupt the angle enough that it ricocheted off the left post and out.
 
NSU pressed throughout the half and took nearly a dozen second-half shots without scoring the second goal. The match appeared to be dwindling away before the drama kicked up in the final five minutes. In the 85th minute, a scuffle caused Eckerd's Nick Jackson to be sent off, putting his team a man down. However, the Tritons would equalize in the 86th minute on a free kick from 20 yards out by Murawski.
 
Although the clock was close to hitting 90 minutes, NSU pushed forward with a one-man advantage. NSU would draw a hard foul 25 yards away from the goal in the 88th minute. The clear-path foul justified a red card for Eckerd's Eduardo Juarez, which put Eckerd at a two-player disadvantage. Riffeser scored his second goal on the season by sending the ball over the line and into the back of the net.
 
With an 11-9 player advantage, NSU's Nirennold scored his third goal of the season deep in the box from the right side. Andrea Spuntarelli (Sr., Rome, Italy) assisted on NSU's final goal of the night.
 
The win puts the Sharks at fifth place in the SSC and clinches at least the sixth seed in the SSC Tournament. A loss by Tampa Saturday night would solidify fifth place in the conference regardless of the remaining two matches.
 
NSU will move on to the SSC finale at home against No. 4 Lynn at 6 p.m. Wednesday.