FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – With hopes off capturing the Sunshine State Conference's regular season crown, and an opportunity to host the league's tournament, a win will go a long way for No. 14 Nova Southeastern when it opens up the final week of the regular season with a road trip to Saint Leo Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.
 
The Sharks recently extended their current unbeaten streak to 10 games following their program-record sixth straight home shutout in a 2-0 win over SSC opponent Eckerd last Saturday. Freshmen Sini Laaksonen and Myriah Troutman each tallied goals in the effort, while keeper Ida Norstrom continued her stellar 2016 campaign by lowering her conference-best goals-against average to 0.496. The victory not only wrapped up a 7-0-2 home slate for the Sharks this season, but also moved head coach John Constable's club into sole possession of first place in the SSC standings.
 
"We're proud of our team," he said after the Sharks improved to 10-1-3 on the year Saturday. "We move to the top of the conference tonight, but there's two games to go and six points to play for. Most important thing is that we're at the top of the conference on Friday night of next week. We have a big game ahead at Saint Leo against a very good team."
 
SSC Championship implications will not only play a major factor for the Sharks, but also a Saint Leo club that enters Tuesday's contest just one point behind and can possibly flip-flop with Nova Southeastern with a win of its own.
 
Both teams were originally scheduled to meet on October 8. However, Hurricane Matthew forced the match to be pushed back and now makes for a very intriguing game with each point equally as important down the stretch in the league race.
 
Since October 8, the Lions have experienced some ups-and-downs by compiling a record of 2-1-1. The SSC's top scoring offense, though, is fresh off a 3-2 victory at Florida Southern this past weekend in which it notched the game-winner with 18 seconds remaining in regulation and boasts a tough 5-1-1 mark at home.
 
Nova Southeastern's talented back line will have its work cut out trying to slow Saint Leo forward Arielle Kabangu. Kabangu ranks first in the SSC in both goals (13) and points (29), and has also added three assists in the process.
 
The talented senior missed last year's meeting with NSU, a match the Sharks won 1-0 in overtime.
 
For complete coverage of Tuesday's showdown, visit NSUSharks.com and click on the provided links on the schedule page.