FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The 10th ranked and second-seeded Nova Southeastern Women's Soccer Team (15-0-4) takes on the six-seeded Montevallo (13-6-2) out of the GSC for a second-round matchup in the South Region. NSU received a bye in the first round while the Falcons came off a 2-0 upset victory over the third-seeded Lee Flames on Friday afternoon.This will be the second time that Nova Southeastern and Montevallo faced off in the NCAA Tournament.
Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. EST.
The Nova Southeastern Sharks capped their last outing with history, capturing their first-ever SSC Tournament Championship in a thrilling battle against Florida Tech. After a 1–1 draw through regulation and overtime, the Sharks held their nerve in penalty kicks, winning 6–5 with
Alexa Bereczki burying the decisive shot. Bereczki's clutch performance earned her Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors, leading a standout group that included
Genesis Hernandez,
Kajsa Lang,
Maria Jansen, and Ella Niemela as the Sharks celebrated a milestone victory for the program.
The Sharks enter this year's NCAA Tournament with one of the most explosive offenses in the nation, having doubled their goal total from last season, jumping from 29 to 58 in 2025. A huge part of that surge comes from the elite tandem of
Genesis Hernandez and
Sofia Suarez, who have combined for 25 goals and sit atop nearly every offensive category. While they fuel the attack, defensive anchor
Kajsa Lang leads the team in minutes with 1,657, showcasing her consistency and reliability on the back line. In their last NCAA appearance, Nova Southeastern advanced past #4 seed Union before falling in the second round to top-seeded West Florida experience that adds even more motivation heading into this year's postseason.
The Sharks are led by All-SSC Tournament selections
Sofia Suarez (SSC Offensive Player of the Year),
Kajsa Lang (SSC Defensive Player of the Year),
Genesis Hernandez, Alexa Berecki, Olivia Loeman (SSC Freshman of the Year),
Freya Jones, and Stina Roswell.
The Montevallo Falcons closed out their last game in dominant fashion, earning a 2–0 win over Lee behind a 38th-minute strike from Isabel Dillehay. Despite early pressure and several shots from Lee in the opening minutes, the Falcons settled in and took control. Their victory comes as they secure their fourth NCAA Tournament berth and their first back-to-back appearance while marking the third national tournament trip under Head Coach Jake Wyman. Now sitting at 13-6-2 with an 8-2-2 conference record, Montevallo enters Round 2 against the Sharks boasting one of the GSC's top attacks, ranking third in the league with 37 goals and 103 total points.
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