FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Momentum is certainly on the side of Nova Southeastern, as the Sharks used a complete effort on Wednesday night en route to a 3-1 victory over Florida Tech. Head coach
John Constable's club received three goals by three different players, including two in a three-minute span in the second half, to secure its second straight win in Sunshine State Conference play and fourth overall.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Nova Southeastern 3, Florida Tech 1
Records: Nova Southeastern (7-4, 2-1 SSC), Florida Tech (4-5-1, 1-2 SSC)
Location: NSU Soccer Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Despite the eventual result, it was Florida Tech in control early on. In the 11th minute, the Sharks survived a near score after a shot by the Panthers' Maria Munoz ricocheted off the cross bar and out of danger.
- Just three minutes later, Munoz and the Panthers threatened again, yet Nova Southeastern keeper Natalie Robayna was there to make the two-handed save.
- Midway through the half, Robayna bailed the Sharks out with an incredible kick save on a point-blank attempt by Keira McCarthy.
- The offense soon started to finds its rhythm, though, for the Sharks. After being held to only two shots in the opening 42 minutes, Adanna Edwards burned by a Florida Tech defender before drilling a low liner into the left corner of the net for the game's first goal.
- Still up 1-0 in the 55th minute, the Sharks were just inches away from finding themselves tied back up. However, Robayna dove and punched the would-be goal over the crossbar to prevent the equalizer.
- A key defensive steal propelled the Sharks to a 2-0 lead in the 81st minute, as Jemma House converted the defensive effort into her team-leading fifth goal of the season.
- Florida Tech would erase the shutout in the 83rd minute, only to watch Emma Heikkila provide the dagger just 57 seconds later on filthy right-footed strike from 30 yards out.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Dating back to the 2015 season, Nova Southeastern has now beaten Florida Tech in four consecutive meetings.
- Since being shut out by Tampa on Sept. 15, the Sharks have averaged 2.5 goals per game in their last four matches.
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TATS OF THE NIGHT:
- The Nova Southeastern offense recorded nine shots in the second half following just four attempts in the opening 45 minutes.
- Hannah Christophe assisted on the goal by Heikkila, marking her first since Nova Southeastern's season opener against Tusculum.
- Robayna finished the night with four saves.
UP NEXT:
Nova Southeastern will continue SSC play this Saturday at 7 p.m. when it heads north to take on Rollins. For complete coverage of the action, visit the
schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_WSoccer.