ST. PETERSBURG – The Eckerd women's soccer team captured the Sunshine State Conference Tournament Championship in thrilling fashion, erasing a two-goal deficit to tie Nova Southeastern by a score of 2-2 before prevailing 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout on Sunday afternoon at Johnson Field.
Nova Southeastern applied pressure early, forcing Madi Winn to make three saves in the opening eight minutes. The Sharks broke through with a penalty kick in the ninth minute before adding another goal less than two minutes later to take a 2-0 advantage.
Amy Woodhead looked to answer immediately, sending an attempt high in the 10th minute. Eckerd broke through in the 23rd minute as Freija Aflenzer and Lisa Fureh combined to set up Woodhead, who found the back of the net to cut the deficit in half.
The Tritons continued to find opportunities following the goal. Woodhead tested the Sharks' goalkeeper in the 26th minute, while Fureh followed with an attempt less than a minute later. Gaby Ruz added another opportunity in the 43rd minute, but her shot sailed high as Eckerd entered halftime trailing 2-1.
Eckerd came out aggressively in the second half, controlling possession and creating opportunities in search of the equalizer. Jasmine Gallo sent a shot high in the 54th minute before Woodhead nearly leveled the contest a minute later, striking the left post. Madison McKeon generated a pair of chances in the 59th and 68th minutes, sending both attempts wide left. Nell Doe followed with an opportunity in the 71st minute, placing a shot on frame that was turned away by the Sharks' goalkeeper.
Eckerd's persistence finally paid off in the 83rd minute. Woodhead fired an initial attempt on goal that was saved, setting up a corner kick. Matilda Edge and Ashley Nelson followed with shots during a flurry of offensive pressure before Woodhead buried her second goal of the afternoon off an assist from Morgan Wright, leveling the contest at 2-2 with just over seven minutes remaining.
Neither side could find the winner in the closing minutes of regulation, sending the championship match into overtime.
Eckerd continued to create opportunities in the first overtime period, with Fureh recording two attempts and Doe adding another. Winn came up big on the other end, making three saves in the final three minutes of the period to keep the Tritons level.
The Tritons generated two more chances in the second overtime, with Nelson and Woodhead each sending attempts high. Winn delivered another crucial stop in the 109th minute as the teams remained deadlocked after 110 minutes, setting the stage for a penalty kick shootout to determine the tournament champion.
Winn rose to the occasion in the shootout, denying Nova Southeastern's first two attempts to give Eckerd an early advantage. Anaya Thomas converted the Tritons' opening attempt before Caroline Buckley's attempt was unsuccessful in the second round.
Matilda Edge converted Eckerd's third attempt, followed by Doe in the fourth round. After Nova Southeastern converted its final attempt to even the shootout at 3-3, Woodhead stepped up with the championship on the line and buried the decisive penalty kick, sealing a 4-3 shootout victory and setting off a championship celebration at Johnson Field.
The Tritons outshot Nova Southeastern 23-15, including a commanding 12-4 advantage in the second half. Woodhead paced Eckerd with seven shots, four on goal, and two goals, while Fureh added four attempts.
Winn finished with eight saves over 110 minutes, including four in overtime, before adding two pivotal stops in the penalty kick shootout.
Woodhead was named the SSC Tournament Most Outstanding Player following her two-goal performance in the championship match, including the dramatic equalizer in the 83rd minute. She was joined on the SSC All-Tournament Team by Jasmine Gallo, Winn, Aflenzer, and Doe.
The Tritons now turn their attention to the NCAA Tournament, with the selection show scheduled for Monday.
