FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Something few defenses have been able to accomplish thus far in 2017, 25^th-ranked Flagler held the Nova Southeastern offense in check Saturday night as the Saints used a lone second-half score to upend the Sharks 1-0 and hand head coach John Constable's club its first loss of the season.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Flagler 1, Nova Southeastern 0
Records: Flagler (6-0-1, 1-0-1 PBC), Nova Southeastern (5-1, 1-0 SSC)
Location: NSU Soccer Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Scoring chances were few and far between in the first half for both sides. Sofia Del Stabile put some steam behind a shot in the 12^th minute, but the attempt was driven directly into the waiting arms of Flagler keeper Sarah-Lisa Dubel.
• Alexys Nowak would later test the Saints in the 38^th minute. However, the sophomore had no luck either, as the half concluded deadlocked at 0-0.
• Still knotted up, Flagler took advantage of a failed clearance by the Shark defense in the 56^th minute when Myiah Russack-Cradeur had a free kick from about 40 yards out wind up at her feet before beating Jordan Lentz for the go-ahead goal.
• With the lead intact, the Saints made things difficult for the Sharks the rest of the way. Midfielder Emma Heikkila put a scare into the Flagler faithful with a clear look at the goal in the 89^th minute, but saw the would-be equalizer sail high in what turned out to be the Sharks final chance at a comeback.

STATS OF THE NIGHT:

• Despite the loss, Nova Southeastern owned the advantage in both the shot (17-10) and corner kick (5-2) department.
• The Sharks trailed for 34:44 in Saturday's contest, falling behind for only the second time in 2017.
• Lentz recorded six saves in the effort, just one less than her season high versus Palm Beach Atlantic.

 
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Saturday's defeat marked the first home loss for the Sharks since falling to North Alabama 3-1 on September 11, 2015.
• Nova Southeastern was shutout against Flagler after having tallied at least two goals in each of its first five matches this season
• Flagler was the first opponent the Sharks have faced from the Peach Belt Conference since Constable took over the program in 2015.

 
UP NEXT:
Nova Southeastern will return to Sunshine State Conference play when it travels to take on Florida Tech on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. The Sharks blanked the Panthers 2-0 in the lone meeting between both clubs a year ago. For complete coverage of the action, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com.