MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry used three first half goals to rout Eckerd 4-0 Saturday night at Buccaneer field, clinching the outright regular season Sunshine State Conference Championship.
The No. 20 ranked Buccaneers (12-3-1, 7-0-1 SSC) won for the eighth time in nine games and have not lost a game since they dropped a 1-0 decision to the same Tritons on Sep. 24 in St. Petersburg, Fla.
However, this is not the same Buccaneer squad that lost to Eckerd earlier in the season.
Lavinia Nkomo led the way with a pair of goals. Lauren Manna and Chelsea Stoeckigt each added goals as well and the Bucs were able to roll past the Tritons.
Knowing what was at stake with a victory, Barry jumped out in front in the 3rd minute of the match when Nkomo found the back of the net on a shot from the right side to give Barry the 1-0 lead.
In the 37th minute Nkomo delivered again, this time with a header following a cross from the left wing.
The onslaught continued just 37 seconds later when Stoeckigt, a senior, struck a shot from 27 yards out into the upper-90 to give Barry the 3-0 advantage.
Eckerd (7-10-0, 1-7-0 SSC) managed just five shots in the first period as the Buccaneers held a 13-5 advantage heading into halftime.
With a 3-0 lead, the Buccaneers never looked back as they continued to play with poise and aggression in the second half, picking and choosing when to attack without taking unnecessary risks.
The defense played spectacular and Lauren Manna put the game out of reach in the 67th minute with a 19 yard strike to increase the deficit to 4-0.
With the win, the Bucs captured their seventh Sunshine State Conference title in program history and their first since 2004. Barry has the most women’s soccer conference championships with seven. Tampa and Rollins each have three.
The win guarantees the Bucs a bye in the first round of the SSC Tournament as well as the right to host the final four semifinal and championship games this upcoming weekend.
For more information regarding the women’s soccer postseason follow the Barry University athletics website, GOBARRYBUCS.COM.
Soccer Game Summary (Final)
2013 Barry University Soccer
Eckerd vs #20 Barry (11/02/13 at Miami Shores, FL)
Eckerd (7-10-0, 1-7-0 SSC) vs. Barry (12-3-1, 7-0-1 SSC)
Date: 11/02/13 Attendance: 136
Weather:
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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Eckerd.............. 0 0 - 0
Barry............... 3 1 - 4
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 2:44 BARRY-W Lavinia Nkomo (6) (Lauren Manna;Ashley Harlan) - great through ball laid off a shot from right wing
2. 36:21 BARRY-W Lavinia Nkomo (7) (Tamara Vuckovich) - header at from post on cross from left wing
3. 36:58 BARRY-W Chelsea Stoeckigt (2) (Lavinia Nkomo) - 27 yards upper 90
4. 67:23 BARRY-W Lauren Manna (7) (Katie Turner;Dominique Richardson) - from 19 yards upper 90
Shots: Eckerd 7, Barry 23
Saves: Eckerd 5 (Caroline Bond 5), Barry 4 (Becca Rogers 4)
Barry wins the 2013 SSC regualr season title and hosts the
conference semifinals and finals Nov. 8-10.