Tars Secure Second-Straight SSC Title with 3-0 Shutout
over Florida Southern
Box Score
LAKELAND, Fla.
(October 29, 2009) - The eighth-ranked
Rollins women's soccer team secured their second-straight, outright
Sunshine State Conference regular season championship with a 3-0 shutout
over Florida Southern on Thursday. The Tars earn the top seed in next
week's conference tournament, and will host both the semifinals and
championship match in Winter Park.
Rollins (13-1-2, 7-0-1) concluded their regular season slate with an
undefeated mark in conference action and denied contenders Florida Tech
and Florida Southern any part of the title. The Mocs prepare for post
season play in third place within the SSC as they finish with a record of
10-6-1, and 6-2 in SSC play.
Junior forward
Chelsea Brady took the reins for Rollins with two goals on the
evening, including the game-winner in the 34th minute of action. Fellow
juniors
Jessica Deese and
Marie Sapper rounded out the points on the evening as Deese notched a
goal and an assist, while Sapper played a big role in Brady's big
game-deciding tally with an assist.
Earning her tenth shutout of the season, goalkeeper
Michelle Dillingham helped the Tars clinch the program's second
championship title with five solid saves after seeing a total of 10. With
help from a staunch back line of
Maia Ryan,
Meagan Thomas,
Leah Hirsch, and
Charlotte Murrell, the Tars held Florida Southern to limited
opportunities in their attacking end.
The Tars took control of the contest early as they set the pace for
play in the initial minutes of action, but it wasn't until goals from
Brady and Deese that Rollins really took command.
Brady's tally at the 33:07 mark sparked the offensive push for the
Tars, and with Deese splitting defenders for a hard strike from outside
the box just 49 seconds later to pull the Tars into a 2-0 lead, the
nationally ranked Tars sailed through the remainder of the contest.
The final goal late in the contest in the 84th minute helped seal the
deal for Rollins, and set a new program mark as the Tars earned their
second conference title in as many years.
The Tars led the shot count 11-10 and headed-up the stats in shots on
goal 7-5, as well as saves 5-4. Both teams saw equal opportunities on
corner kicks with six each.
The Tars now prepare to host the Sunshine State Conference Tournament
and will take to the pitch on Friday, November 6 when they take on the
winner of the Saint Leo/Nova Southeastern showdown to take place on
Tuesday. Kickoff for the Tars is set for 7:00 p.m. at Barker Family
Stadium and Cahall-Sandspur Field. Fans will be able to catch all of the
action live on the Tars Sports Network at RollinsSports.com.