WINTER PARK, Fla. – Senior Erin Hopkins
headed in the game-winning goal with 23 seconds remaining in the
second overtime to lift second seeded Florida Southern past third
seeded Tampa, 3-2 in the first semifinal of the Sunshine State
Conference Tournament. The event is being hosted by top seeded
Rollins at Cahall-Sandspur Field in Winter Park.
With the final seconds remaining before a shoot-out, midfielder
Liz Gorman sent a cross into the penalty box before Princess Haley
sent a chip shot to Hopkins who finished with a header into the
net.
Before the exciting finish, it was a back-and-forth contest with
both teams holding plenty of opportunities to secure the win.
In the first half, the Mocs held a 2-1 advantage after a pair of
goals from Haley. The Dallas, Texas, native started the scoring
with a goal in the 4th minute after crediting Alex Hoover and
Hopkins with assists.
The lead lasted nearly 20 minutes, but at the 24:32 mark,
Brittney Evans capitalized on the Moc's defensive attempt to clear
the ball. Freshman Brittan Spence secured the ball and played it
to Evans, who placed the shot past the Moc's goalkeeper, Martina
Tangen.
Just before intermission, it was Haley again this time playing a
rebound from a Hopkins shot that gave the Mocs a 2-1 lead into the
half.
The second half was dominated by the Spartans as they out-shot
the Mocs 9-5 and had three corner kicks and held Florida Southern
to zero. One of those nine chances paid off as the Spartans were
awarded a penalty kick, which was taken by Megan Tobin.
Tobin placed her free kick to left side of the goal, which was
guessed correctly by Tangen, but the Moc's keeper was still unable
to deny the goal.
Tampa out-shot Florida Southern in the contest 22-14
With the win, the Moccasins secured a spot in Saturday's final
against the winner of the Saint Leo versus Rollins match-up at 1
p.m.
