Astiazaran Scores Twice in Loss to Barry, Tritons Clinch No. 4 Seed

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - Paula Astiazaran recorded a brace Saturday night, but the Eckerd women's soccer team came up just short against a high-powered Barry University offense, falling 3-2 in the regular season finale.

Despite the loss, the Tritons earned the No. 4 seed in next week's conference tournament, qualifying for the first time since 2014.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: Barry 3, Eckerd 2
Records: Eckerd (6-7, 5-5 SSC); Barry (9-2-2, 7-1-2 SSC) 
All-Time Series: Barry leads, 21-2-1

HOW IT HAPPENED 
* Barry began the game aggressively firing two shots on goal in the first 12 minutes, but both times Eckerd goalkeeper Casey Winn was there to make a nice save. Eckerd held firm against the Barry attack and countered to score the opening goal.  Sydney Tiiman found an open Astiazaran who fired a low shot to the far post from 20 yards out to put the Tritons up, 1-0, in the 20th minute.
* Barry quickly sent in the equalizer less than three minutes later. Molly Sharpe carried the ball to the top of the six where she fired in the goal. 
* One minute later, Kayla Gray looked to put the Tritons back rifling off a shot, but goalie Melanie Ziegner was there for the save. 
* The Bucs then took another five shots in the following 12  minutes. Winn again made another two excellent saves; however, Sarah Wignall found the back of the net in the 25th minute on a hard cross from the left side and one-timing the shot past Winn. 
* The Tritons were able to keep the Bucs off the board for the next 37 minutes as the defense held strong stopping another 15 shots. Winn turned back six shots during the stretch while the defense blocked another four. However, Christy Grimshaw put in a shot in the 73rd minute to put Barry up 3-1. 
* Eckerd was poised for a comeback as Gray nearly sent in a goal in the 74th minute. After a tackle in the box in the 77th minute, Astiazaran sent in the penalty kick for her fourth goal of the season and pulled Eckerd within one. 
*Astiazaran nearly came up with a hat trick as she had a late look to equalize the match. She had a chance in the final minute but Ziegner made the save to preserve the win for the Bucs.

NOTES AND NUMBERS
* Winn grabbed 12 saves for Eckerd, her highest total of the season and the second-highest of her career. 
* Eckerd was outshot, 28-6, and 15-5 in shots on goal. 
* Astiazaran's goals were her third and fourth of the season.  All four have come in conference play. 

UP NEXT
* Eckerd is the No. 4 seed in next week's conference tournament and will host Tampa in the SSC Opening Round at Johnson Field on Tuesday at 7 PM. Tampa lost to Nova Southeastern, 2-0, Friday night to stay behind Eckerd in the standings.