Box Score FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University women's soccer team battled twice to cut the lead to one goal, but fell short in a loss on Wednesday night to No. 9 Barry, 3-2 at the NSU Soccer Complex.
Barry (6-1-1, 3-0-0 SSC) remained undefeated in conference play on the strength of two close goals midway through the first half, and they never relinquished that lead. Both scores came off the foot of junior Lavinia Nkomo, and both were second-chance opportunities.
The first goal was Nkomo herself rebounding a ricochet off the crossbar off a shot from Amanda Traynor in the 21st minute. Then, nearly six minutes later (5:58 to be exact), in the 27th, Tamara Vuckovich took Lauren Manna's shot that had hit off the post, crossed it to Nkomo, and she again was able to put it into the back of the net.
Though that would technically be the game-winner, the Sharks (4-4-0, 1-3-0 SSC) continued to fight and really turned on the aggressiveness after the break. They got on the board and cut the lead in half in the 50th, when
Sarah Keville (Jr., Vero Beach, Fla.) skied into the air to reach a high pass from
Carley Montgomery (Fr., Sanford, Fla.) and headed it in for her fifth goal of the season.
The Bucs extended the lead back out to two off of a corner kick from Shanice Robe to Jojo Frigerio at 71:29, but again, the Sharks came off the mat. With 4:04 to go,
Sierra Lelii (R-Jr.., Seminole, Fla.) broke free, nipped the ball up and over the sliding BU goalkeeper, Paula Forero, and blasted it into the empty net for goal No. 7.
Though the Sharks would push the pace and try to get an equalizer, they simply ran out of time, and Barry escaped Fort Lauderdale with the win. Forero made just one save against the two Shark goals.
Amanda Kopale (R-So., Cape Coral, Fla.) gathered five saves on her side. The Bucs outshot NSU 16-6, but had just a 6-4 advantage in the second half.
NSU will have this upcoming weekend off and next return to the pitch a week from tonight, Oct. 15, at Rollins in Winter Park, Florida. It will be the second straight match against a ranked opponent, as the Tars were voted No. 14 in the most recent NSCAA/Continental Tire DII Poll.
