Late Goal Lifts Tars Over #4 Mocs

LAKELAND, Fla. (April 9, 2021) – The No. 11 Tars used a late Sammy Ottimo goal to secure an upset win over the No. 4 Florida Southern Mocs.  The marquee win improves the Tars record to 4-1 overall, and 4-1 in Sunshine State Conference play.  The Mocs suffer their first defeat of 2021, falling to 4-1, and 3-1 in conference action.  With the win Rollins move atop the SSC standings.
 
Liz Fahey found the back of the net a game high five times, while adding an assist for a total of six points.  She also collected a groundball and a draw control.  Eden Cooke, Taylor Kienle, and Ottimo each scored twice.  Hannah Forbes registered two assists, while also winning six draw controls.  Gabby Tanner played the full 60 minutes between the pipes, making six saves.
 
Hailey Daleo and Marina Jozokos each tallied four scores to lead Florida Southern.  Jozokos added three assists for a total of seven points.  Mahila Benedetto caused four turnovers and picked up six draw controls, both team highs.  Brittany Iamele made seven saves for the Mocs.
 
Both teams went on runs in the first half.  The Mocs jumped out to a 3-1 advantage before the Tars rallied off a three goal stretch to take the lead.  Adia Field-Ridley ventured into the offensive half of the field and beat Iamele to start the run.  Eden Cooke and Caroline Gastonguay each tallied to take make the score 4-3.  Daleo would knot the score at 4-4, before another three goal outburst from Rollins.  Fahey registered the natural hat-trick, including a pair of man-up goals.  The Mocs recorded the next three goals, tying the game at 7-7 with a minute left in the half.  Cooke gave Rollins the halftime lead with 14 seconds on the clock, making the score 8-7 at the break.
 
The Mocs got the lead back early in the second half with three straight goals.  Rollins responded with three of their own, Abigail Cawley, Taylor Kienle, and Sammy Ottimo netted scores, giving Rollins an 11-10 advantage.  Both teams would trade goals down the stretch.  Lizzy Lynch tied the score at 11-11 at the 11-minute mark.  Fahey took the lead back for Rollins, before the Mocs would again knot the score, this time at 12-12.  Taylor Kienle gave Rollins the led at the four minute mark.  The senior dodged toward the middle of the field, freezing the defense with a pass fake before firing a shot low into the bottom corner of the net.  Jozokos brought the Mocs level at 13-13 with two minutes on the clock.  Rollins made a defensive stand in the final minute, with Megan DeGroat sprinting up the sideline to earn the Tars the final possession.  With time ticking down on the clock Ottimo dodged by her defender, and with three Mocs collapsing on her she fired a shot inside the pipe, giving Rollins a 14-13 lead with three second on the clock.  Neither team controlled the final draw, and the Tars started celebrating the signature victory.


 
UP NEXT:
Rollins will conclude SSC action next time out as they host the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish at Barker Family Stadium.  First draw is scheduled for Saturday, April 17, at 4 p.m.

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