LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATSFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The fifth-seeded Nova Southeastern University men's soccer team (6-8-1) is set to begin the 2014 Sunshine State Conference Tournament Tuesday in Winter Park, Fla. against the fourth seed, the Rollins Tars (10-4-2), at 7 p.m.
NSU sealed its place in the tournament back on Oct. 25 by defeating the sixth-seeded Eckerd Tritons at home, 3-1. After starting 1-2, Rollins sealed a home match in the SSC Tournament by going undefeated over the course of the final five conference matches, including a 2-2 tie with the top seed in the tournament, the No. 4 Lynn Fighting Knights.
Despite Rollins' recent success, the Sharks' offense has proven they can score goals against the Tars. NSU hung three goals on Rollins at home last season, and led Rollins, 3-0, at halftime on Oct. 15 in Winter Park, Fla. Unfortunately, Rollins equalized in the second half and scored the golden goal in overtime. That result turned this Tuesday's postseason match into a shot at redemption for the Sharks.
The match serves as a benchmark for an NSU team that is on the rise after a three-year postseason hiatus. NSU has won three matches and drawn twice in the postseason since joining the SSC. From 2004 to 2010, NSU was the only school in the conference to qualify for every tournament the SSC put on. The Sharks will be facing a Rollins program with a great deal of recent success themselves. The Tars have history on their side in the SSC Tournament, where they have won three of the last 10 championships, and on a national scale, where they have advanced to the NCAA Tournament eight times in the last decade.
Rollins is led by Brett Durrance with seven goals and 16 points, both of which place him fifth in the SSC. Skyler Russell has been the top playmaker with nine assists, good for a tie for first in the SSC. Overall, six players hold double digits in points this season for the Tars. In goal, Julian Grundler is third in the SSC in saves, despite missing three matches towards the end of the season due to injury. He returned for the last three matches and allowed just four goals, recording 14 saves.
In the last two meetings, Seniors
Victor Cardoso (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and
Vincenzo Padula (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) have had success, each with a goal and an assist. Last year,
Stefano Fanfoni (Jr., Cremona, Italy) led the charge with a program-record three assists in the match against Rollins.
Live video for Tuesday's match is available HERE, while live stats can be found HERE. Be sure to follow @NSUSharks on Twitter for updates throughout the match.
