WINTER PARK, Fla. – The match between the No. 20 Nova Southeastern Sharks and the No. 8 Rollins Tars was a fierce, back-and-forth battle between the top-two teams in the Sunshine State Conference. Yet, after falling behind early in their toughest road match to date, the Sharks earned a 1-1 draw and picked up a crucial point in the SSC standings.
The Tars wasted no time applying pressure to Sharks keeper
Ida Norstrom three minutes into the match when a shot sailed just high over the cross bar. A relentless Rollins attack kept firing, but could not find the back of the net.
However, the Tars would eventually strike first in the 32nd minute when Mackenzie Miller knocked a corner kick over Norstrom's head to give the Tars a 1-0 lead. The rest of the first half was all Rollins as its defense only allowed two shots, none on goal, while the Tars tallied nine shots and carried a 1-0 lead into halftime. The Sharks trailed at the break for the first time since Sept. 9 vs North Alabama, logging over 700 minutes without trailing in a match.
The second half started with both teams trading shots and both keepers making great saves. A few minutes later, the Sharks found momentum on offense and
Emma Heikkila finally found the back of the net in the 59th minute.
Nichole Poppe had a shot sail wide but it ended up into the feet of Heikkila, who wasted no time burying it in the back of the net to tie the match 1-1. The Sharks went on the offensive attack for the rest of the half with a 14-5 advantage in shots. The Tars, though, almost had the last laugh with a game-winner, but Norstrom denied the Tars a victory just before the final horn in regulation went off.
The Sharks nearly won the match in the first overtime period when a corner kick found its way into the back of the net, but a foul was called on the Sharks and the goal was waved off. After a scoreless second overtime period, the match ended in a draw.
The tie makes a huge difference for the Sharks as they prevent the Tars from taking a four-point advantage in the SSC standings. With both teams earning one point, the Sharks still hold the second-place spot in the SSC standings just 1 point behind the Tars and 1 point ahead of Saint Leo.
The Sharks will have another tough match on Wednesday, Oct. 19 as they host defending SSC and South Region Champions Barry at 7 P.M. ET.