FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – An aggressive offensive attack, coupled by a stiff defensive effort, paced the Nova Southeastern men’s soccer team on Monday, as the Sharks defended home field and advanced to the Sunshine State Conference Tournament semifinals with a 3-0 victory over Florida Southern.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Score: Nova Southeastern 3, Florida Southern 0
Records: Nova Southeastern 11-3-2, Florida Southern 6-8-3
Location: NSU Soccer Complex | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
- The NSU offense established itself early in the quarterfinal matchup, taking three chances on goal in a 30-second span, yet the Sharks were unable to find the back of the net.
- Odei Arrieta gave NSU the lead in the 22nd minute, scoring on a corner kick, with his attempt deflecting off the post and past the FSC keeper.
- NSU took eight more shots on target before the half, keeping the pressure on the FSC defense.
- The Moccasins attempted an equalizer late in the first half, but the shot was turned away by reigning SSC Defensive Player of the Week, Alberto Ciroi.
- Senior Matty Cornish extended the NSU advantage by beating the keeper on a breakaway after an assist from Henrik Berg in the 54th minute.
- NSU’s defense stymied the FSC offensive attack, limiting FSC to just five shots in the match.
- Juanchi Nunez sealed the Sharks’ victory over FSC, scoring his second goal of the season on an assist from Milos Christoforou in the 84th minute.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The victory over FSC puts NUS into the SSC Tournament semifinals for the third consecutive season.
- NSU swept the season series against FSC, outscoring the Mocs by a combined 6-1 margin in two matches.
- The Sharks’ 12 shots-on-goal were tied for the second-most in a game this season.
- NSU has held its opponents scoreless in three consecutive matches, and is outscoring teams 6-0 in that span.
STATS OF THE NIGHT
- NSU out-shot FSC 24-5 in the match, including 12-2 with shots-on-goal opportunities.
- Cornish netted his team-leading ninth goal of the 2021 season in the quarterfinal matchup. The senior has now recorded goals in 6-of-7 games dating back to Oct. 13.
UP NEXT
The victory over FSC sends fourth-seeded NSU into the SSC Tournament semifinal round against SSC Regular Season Champion, and top-seed, Palm Beach Atlantic on Thurs., Nov. 11, in West Palm Beach, Fla.