FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Back in the postseason for a fourth consecutive year, Nova Southeastern opens NCAA Tournament play Friday at 1 p.m. against Mississippi College with just one thing on its mind – winning.
Despite a combined 49 victories since head coach John Constable took over in 2015, the Sharks are still searching for the program's first-ever win in a south regional. Yes, Nova Southeastern did advance to the Round of 32 just a year ago. However, as the No. 2 seed, the Sharks were aided by a bye before bowing out to Lee by virtue of penalty kicks.
Entering this time around as the region's No. 6 seed, the Sharks hope things are different against a Mississippi College side that has compiled a record of 14-3 this fall. Both teams head into Friday's match in similar fashion, each having lost the last time out after closing the regular season on a tear.
Nova Southeastern must forget its Sunshine State Conference Tournament championship defeat to Barry, while the Choctaws made an early exit in the Gulf South Conference Tournament quarterfinal round, falling 1-0 to Montevallo.
While the respective programs have been equally as successful in 2018, the numbers suggest that Friday's battle may very well be a contrast in styles. Led by First Team All-SSC selection Emma Heikkila, Nova Southeastern racked up the second-most goals in the SSC with 46, including eight matches in which it scored at least three. On the other hand, Mississippi College ranked seventh in the GSC in scoring average, yet limited its opponents to only 0.59 goals per game – second-best in the league.
Friday's meeting will be just the second all-time between both programs, the Sharks coming away with a 2-0 victory over the Choctaws back on Sept. 11, 2016. Oddly enough, the two goals scored that day were both by Heikkila.
The winner of Friday's match will advance to the second round, where it'll face Barry this Sunday at 1 p.m.
For complete coverage of Friday's opening-round action, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Twitter at @NSU_WSoccer.
