Eckerd College defeated Tampa 4-1 on Nov. 5 at Johnson Field in St. Petersburg to reach the Sunshine State Conference Tournament championship game. Nell Doe scored twice 83 seconds apart in the second half, and the victory extended Eckerd’s unbeaten streak to 11 games. The result sent the Tritons through after the teams were tied 1-1 at halftime.
Tampa applied early pressure and forced Eckerd goalkeeper Madi Winn to make three saves in the opening 17 minutes. Eckerd created a chance in the 23rd minute when Freija Aflenzer struck the left post. The Tritons broke through in the 37th minute when Caroline Buckley headed in a goal assisted by Lisa Furéh, her first of the season.
Tampa leveled the match in the 44th minute through Kaylee Gibson, sending the teams into halftime tied. Eckerd then generated three corner kicks during the first 12 minutes of the second half before Doe broke the deadlock at 66:23. Freija Aflenzer assisted on the goal, which gave Eckerd a 2-1 lead.
Doe’s quick double changes the semifinal
Doe scored again 83 seconds later, this time with an assist from Helen Scheer, to push Eckerd’s advantage to 3-1. Amy Woodhead added the fourth goal in the 77th minute by converting a penalty kick. The three second-half goals turned a tied semifinal into a decisive Eckerd victory.
Winn finished with five saves, including two in the second half after Doe’s goals. Tampa held an 11-10 edge in shots, while Eckerd led 5-3 in corner kicks and placed five attempts on target. The result secured Eckerd’s place in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament championship game.
Eckerd advances to championship match
Eckerd was scheduled to host No. 13 nationally ranked Nova Southeastern in the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. The title match will be played at Eckerd. The semifinal victory gives the Tritons an 11-game unbeaten streak entering the championship.
FSB Take
Eckerd’s response after halftime was the defining factor in the semifinal. Doe’s two goals in 83 seconds supplied the separation, while Woodhead’s penalty kick added another layer of insurance. Eckerd now enters its championship match with Nova Southeastern unbeaten in 11 games and prepared to play the title game at home.
Source: Original report