FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – With the monkey finally off its back, Nova Southeastern will look to continue its winning ways in the Sunshine State Conference when it faces Eckerd on the road Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET.
 
Previously mired in an eight-game losing skid, including six straight in league play, the Sharks reversed the trend when they knocked off conference foe Barry 3-2 earlier in the week. Five of the eight matches during the rough stretch had been decided by one goal, but the Sharks found themselves on the positive end on Wednesday thanks to three scores from three different players.
 
Midfielder Filippo Mancini opened the scoring in the 36^th minute to give the Sharks the first-half lead. The Buccaneers eventually responded in the 53^rd minute, however Noel Johnson and Juanes Devia provided enough cushion later in the half to allow Nova Southeastern to hold on against a Barry team that was ranked as high as No. 8 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll just a week ago.
 
The much-needed victory marked the program's first win at Buccaneer Filed since back on September 21, 2005. That same road spark will be needed once again this weekend if the Sharks are to add another SSC 'W', as Eckerd enters the matchup with a strong 6-2-1 record this season at the Turley Athletic Complex.

The Tritons' home-field advantage was dampened a bit this past Tuesday, though, after they were outmatched by Florida Tech en route to a 5-1 defeat. Eckerd found itself already behind 3-0 in the 32^nd minute, and had no answer for the Panthers' Adin Kavara, who picked up a hat-trick in the contest to drop the Tritons to their third loss in four games.
 
Juan David Tejada recorded the Tritons' lone goal in the effort and now has team-high eight on the year, while midfielder Matheus Assumpcao's seven assists lead the club and rank tied for second overall in the SSC.
 
NSU and Eckerd have split each of the previous two meetings in the series, with the Sharks coming away with a decisive 3-1 victory back in 2014.
 
For live coverage of Saturday's action, visit NSUSharks.com and click the provided links on the schedule page.