FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In a battle between two of the Sunshine State Conference's premiere programs thus far in 2016, No. 20 Nova Southeastern hopes to build upon its perfect start in league play when it travels to face eighth-ranked Rollins this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.
 
The Sharks continued their SSC dominance this past Wednesday after knocking off Florida Tech at home by a decisive 2-0 margin. The Panthers entered riding a wave of momentum just days removed from snapping three-time defending national champion Grand Valley State's two-year home win streak, but weren't able to withstand Nova Southeastern's early rush of offense as the Sharks improved to an impressive 9-1-1, 4-0 in the conference.
 
Nichole Poppe jump-started the offense less than two minutes into the match, registering her first of two assists on the night after linking up with freshman Alexys Nowak to put the Sharks in front right away. Poppe wasn't done, though, and in the seventh minute played a beautiful corner kick into the box when Bailey Corbin converted her first goal of the season with a header into the back of the net.
 
Both scores were more than plenty for keeper Ida Norstrom, who tallied five saves in the effort to keep Nova Southeastern unbeaten at home this season. Despite being just a freshman, Norstrom has shown much more of veteran presence as the anchor of the defense, and has now failed to allow a goal in each of her six starts at the NSU Soccer Complex in 2016.  
 
Rollins has been no stranger to success this season either, though, and enters the weekend with a perfect home record and one-point lead over the Sharks atop the SSC standings. Since being handed their lone loss this year back on September 14, head coach Alicia Schuck's club has yielded just two goals during a 4-0-1 stretch that has the Tars back into the Top-10 of the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.
 
Midfielder Paxton Sickler moved into a tie for third all-time in goals scored in Rollins history after putting the Tars in front in the third minute of their 2-0 win over Florida Southern back on October 5. Sickler currently ranks among the Top-10 in the SSC in all major offensive categories including goals, assists, points and game-winning goals.
 
NSU upended Rollins 2-1 in overtime in last season's lone meeting with the Tars.
 
For live coverage of Saturday's ranked matchup, click on the provided links on the schedule page.