BOCA RATON, Fla. (October 18, 2008) - The No.
8 ranked Rollins women's soccer team traveled to the home field of
Lynn University on Saturday afternoon to battle the Fighting
Knights to a 2-0 victory and keep their undefeated season alive.
The Tars continue to advance with an overall record of 11-0-2, and
4-0 in the Sunshine State Conference, while Lynn University takes
the loss and descends to 10-3-2, 3-2-1 in conference play.
Three Tars registered points on the afternoon as senior defender
Dana
Merrill was able to get the Tars up on the board in the first
half with a free kick, and in second half action a hard strike from
Leah
Hirsch off of a Jessica
Deese assist closed-out the afternoon to give the Tars their
fourth conference victory.
Rollins put the pressure on early as they were able to send the
ball between the pipes in the third minute, but an offsides foul
was called and the goal did not count. The Tars would not back
down though, firing off three more shots before a foul on Lynn in
the 29 minute allowed for Rollins to set up a free kick. Senior
powerhouse Dana
Merrill set up the ball on the left wing and fired a rocket
over the heads of the Lynn defense and goalkeeper Natalie Feller to
give the Tars their game-winning goal of the contest.
The Fighting Knights had a chance to tie it up with a free kick
from Sara Mendelsberg with nine minutes to go in the first half,
but a solid Rollins defense made the save to keep the Tars up 1-0
at the halftime break. Rollins led the first half in shots 5-3,
saves 3-2, and corner kicks 4-1.
Entering into the second period it would still be anyone's game
as the final 45 minutes proved to be intense for the conference
rivals. The Fighting Knights came out chomping at the bit and
ready to put a tally on the scoreboard, firing off 11 shots on the
Rollins defense throughout the second half.
The Tars were able to hold back a resilient Lynn squad, and
posted their second goal in the 73 minute as Hirsch connected on an
assist from Deese and fired the ball in the goal from the top of
the box.
Freshman goalkeeper Michelle
Dillingham collected her second conference shutout of the week,
silencing the Fighting Knights with six saves on the afternoon
after facing14 shots and seven shots on goal throughout the
contest.
The nationally ranked Rollins women's soccer team will be back
in action on Saturday, October 25 when they travel to the
University of Tampa to take on the defending National Champions.
Kickoff against the Spartans is set for 7:00 p.m. Fans can catch
all of the action live on the Citizen's Bank of Florida Tars Sports
Network at www.RollinsSports.com.
