FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University women's soccer team suffered their first loss of the season on Friday night, falling to North Alabama, 3-1.
 
The Sharks (3-1) ended the first half with a bang, scoring as the waning seconds ticked off the scoreboard. Samantha Gestido (Sr., Hialeah, Fla.) set up for a free kick, lined up from about 30 yards out, and sent it into the box. Her on-target pass found the head of the returning Julia Nytorp (Sr., Örnsköldsvik, Sweden), who put it in with just three seconds left in the frame for a 1-0 lead.
 
North Alabama (2-0-1) came up with an untouchable equalizer in the 56th minute when reigning DII Player of the Year Chloe Richards curled in a free kick from the righthand corner of the box to the top left of the net. The Lions then quickly added two more scores, coming in a span of 2:18.

The first came with 24:51 remaining when a corner ricocheted off of Margarida Sousa and in to give them the lead, then at 22:33, Richards found Kylie Huey on a cross for some added breathing room.
 
The Sharks couldn't scratch back despite putting up eight shots in those final 20-plus minutes. They ended up being just edged out in that category, 21-18, with Nytorp leading the way individually with four. Each team chalked up seven saves.
 
Next up for NSU is their 2015 Sunshine State Conference opener, on the road in Lakeland against Florida Southern. Gametime is 7 p.m. this upcoming Wednesday, Sept. 16.