FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Eckerd women's soccer team battled in the second half, but fell to Nova Southeastern 3-1 in the first round of the Sunshine State Conference Tournament at the NSU Soccer Stadium on Monday afternoon.
The game was off to a slow start, with neither team able to generate any quality chances. Tritons' goalkeeper Cadence Talbert was tested in the 12th minute, but she was able to fend off the shot to keep the Sharks off the board. The Sharks had five corner kicks in the first half alone, but Eckerd's defense shut them down each time to keep the score 0-0 heading into the intermission.
Nova Southeastern struck early in the second frame, taking the lead 1-0 in the 53rd minute. Less than 10 minutes later, the Sharks grew their lead to two. The Tritons were resilient, when in the 65th minute, Jill Doerger sent a high ball into the box to Kendall Drummond crashing the net. Drummond headed the ball past the Sharks' keeper to shrink their deficit back to one. The Sharks added another late to bring their tally to three. Eckerd had a chance with a corner kick in the 79th minute, but could not convert. The Sharks took the game 3-1.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Nova Southeastern 3, Eckerd 1
RECORDS: Eckerd 4-6-6 (3-4-3 SSC); Nova Southeastern 5-5-3 (4-2-3 SSC)
SCORING SUMMARY: EC - Drummond 65' (Doerger); NSU - Hernandez 53' (Suarez), Bereczki 63' (Schutt), Mettrick 76' (Sllden)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Four Tritons played the full 90 minutes: Talbert, Sophia Butkovich, Jasmine Gallo, and Natalie Rudman
- Drummond's final goal of her career was her fifth of the season and 20th of her career.
- Doerger and Drummond rattled off two shots apiece.
- Doerger's assist was her third of the season, tying her career-high.
