Box Score
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Despite a 3-0 loss to conclude the regular season on the road at Barry University, the Eckerd College men's soccer program is headed to the postseason and the Florida Blue Sunshine State Conference Championship as the fourth seed.
The Tritons (7-8-2, 4-3-1 SSC) will host fifth-seeded Saint Leo University in one of the quarterfinal matches on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Turley Athletic Complex. The winner between the No. 4/5 seeds advances to a Friday semifinal date at No. 1 seed Lynn University in Boca Raton.
As the No. 1 seed, Lynn will host all semifinal matches and the championship final.
Saint Leo leapfrogged No. 6 seed Florida Tech in the final standings tonight, earning three points for its SSC win against Nova Southeastern University. Florida Tech will travel to third-seeded Rollins College in the other quarterfinal contest.
EC came away with a key overtime victory, 1-0, earlier this season at Saint Leo after junior
Mark Lee cashed in the game winner in the 92nd minute.
Eckerd navigated through the challenging SSC schedule above .500 for the first time since 1984, when the squad went 3-2-1 in league play. Those have been the only instances in program history the team has finished over .500 since the SSC soccer standings were tracked beginning in 1981.
“I'm proud of the group and we've had a couple of really good performances this year,” EC Head Coach Steve Magee said. “We will need to put our best game forward to advance against Saint Leo. We're taking one step forward by hosting a playoff game on our home field.”
“I'm disappointed with tonight's result, but we're excited to be playing at least one more game,” he continued. “We know how good they are and how hard they play.”
Against Barry (5-10-1 overall), the Tritons fell victim to a pair of goals by Patrick Drmola, one in each half.
The Buccaneers were also helped by a 73rd-minute strike by Cris Sevieri to cap the scoring and goalkeepers Fred Perez/Edwin Jean each played a half in net in the shutout effort.
The Tritons managed nine shots on the night while Barry recorded 20.
Live stats and live video/audio for Tuesday's game against Saint Leo will be streamed live with links provided on EckerdTritons.com.
Single-day ticket prices are as follows for the Florida Blue SSC Championship this year:
Adults: ($8 for single game AND doubleheaders)
Youth: Age 13 to College ($5 for single game AND doubleheaders)
SSC Institution Students: Free with proper institutional student ID
Seniors: ($5 for single game AND doubleheaders)
Children: Age 12 and Under (FREE for single game AND doubleheaders)
2012 Florida Blue SSC Men's Soccer Championship Schedule
Quarterfinals - Tuesday, October 30
No. 5 Saint Leo at No. 4 Eckerd, 7 p.m.
No. 6 Florida Tech at No. 3 Rollins, 7 p.m.
Semifinals - Friday, November 2 (Hosted by Lynn)
Winner Florida Tech/Rollins vs. No. 2 Tampa, 11 a.m.
Winner Saint Leo/Eckerd vs. No. 1 Lynn, 2:30 p.m.
Finals - Sunday, November 4 (Hosted by Lynn)
Semifinal Winners, 1 p.m.
