Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. - It was a win that the Eckerd College women's soccer team needed.
After dropping their first two Sunshine State Conference matches of the season, the Tritons (4-2-1, 1-2) earned three points in the standings thanks to a 2-1 victory over Florida Southern on Wednesday night in Lakeland.
Sixth-year head coach
Danielle Fotopoulos said it was the best performance her team has put together this season, and it came at a very good time.
"We had a really good week of practice," she said. "They were hungry for a win in conference."
The match was scoreless for the first 70 minutes, although Eckerd gradually took control of the run of play as the game progressed. After several near misses, the Tritons finally broke through in the 71st minute when
Michelle Spesshardt collected a cross from
Alice Wader from the right side and, while fighting off a defender, left the ball for
Taylor Tippett running into the box. Tippett finished with a hard strike past FSC keeper Helena Norrstrom to break the stalemate.
Monique Elliott added an insurance goal in the 87th minute, blowing past her defenders and firing a shot into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
As it turned out, Elliott's goal was huge as the Mocs (1-4-1, 1-1) scored with under a minute left in regulation. Florida Southern quickly regained possession and tried to net the equalizer but EC keeper
Angelique Ulmer was able to clear away a cross into the box as time ran out.
Despite the late goal allowed, Fotopoulos praised the work of her defense.
"Our back was really composed," she said, "and we did a good job moving the ball around and possessing."
The possession resulted in a 23-10 shots advantage for the Tritons, who eclipsed 20 shots in a match for the third time this season.
Eckerd returns to the Turley Athletic Complex on Saturday to host provisional SSC member Embry-Riddle (Fla.) at 2:00 PM.
