ABOVE VIDEO: Eastern Florida held their annual Media day for their soccer team. Jeff Carr, Oliver Twelvetrees and others from Eastern Florida give their take on the upcoming season.
Eastern Florida Men’s Soccer Wins in Overtime
MEN’S SOCCER – In his mind Eastern Florida men’s soccer head coach Oliver Twelvetrees knew Friday night’s match with Jefferson College was a must-win game.
Eastern Florida’s Men’s soccer team beat Jefferson College thanks to determination that led to a tying goal with 5 minutes and 45 seconds to play and the winning score 1:35 into overtime.
And thanks to dogged effort and determination that led to a tying goal with 5 minutes and 45 seconds to play and the winning score 1:35 into overtime it was mission accomplished.
The victory on the Melbourne Campus improved Eastern Florida’s record to 3-2, its wins coming by scores of 10-0, 2-0 and 2-1 and both its losses by 2-1 scores, the second in overtime.
Romario Grant
Eastern Florida sophomore Romario Grant finally solved a stubborn Jefferson defense and superb goalkeeper to tie Friday’s game at 1-1 in the waning minutes. Jefferson had gone ahead 1-0 on a long-range rocket with 26:20 to play following a scoreless first half.
And while the Titans continued to have the run of play they couldn’t dent the Jefferson defense again.
That was until EFSC sophomore defender Keenan King broke free for a breakaway down the left side and freshman Miles McRae, a late substitution, used his fresher legs to beat the defense to the ball and the winning goal.
“It was just hard work,” said McRae.
“Once I got it I knew it was going in. It was a great ball from Keenan. I knew if I got a step after the ball was played I was going to beat the defender. He was tired.’”
For his part, King credited McRae.
“Miles got it and I knew once he got it he was going to finish it. He’s a clinical finisher.”
As for the game itself, King said it was vital.
“We really needed this one,” he said. “From last year to this year we kind of struggled. We lost two games we feel like we shouldn’t have lost. But we knew we can play ball, Eastern Florida type ball.
Oliver Twelvetrees
“It was a good game to win. Moving forward we should do a lot better.”
Twelvetrees echoed King on the game’s possible impact.
“I think it’s really going to kick start our season,” he said. “We needed it. Again, very similar to other game (the 2-1 overtime loss to Georgia Perimeter). But this time we managed to get that final ball.
“The boys did show a lot of heart. I thought we bossed them,” Twelvetrees added referencing Eastern Florida’s 21-6 advantage in shots.
“It was a special moment, hopefully the first of many to come this season.”
Eastern Florida Women’s Soccer Rolls 9-0 in Opener
WOMEN’S SOCCER – Eastern Florida’s women’s soccer team, which waited six weeks to play its first match of the season, wasted little time in its debut on Friday, scoring less than two minutes into the game.
Stephanie Martin, Jamie Perriello, and Samantha Solis share their experience with the freshmen who make up the bulk of this year’s team. (Eastern Florida image)
And the goals didn’t stop there as the Titans found the back of the net three more times in the first half en route to a 9-0 victory over Broward College on the Melbourne Campus.
Freshman Helen Ramsey opened the scoring on a header less than two minutes into the game. Goals from the Camargo twins, freshmen Abbie and Briana followed with 17 minutes and 24 seconds and 10:47 to play respectively. Sophomore Jamie Perriello capped the first-half scoring, netting a penalty kick with 40 seconds to play.
The kick followed sophomore Stephanie Martin being knocked down in the box on a breakaway.
Briana Camargo scored twice more and Ramsey and Abbie Camargo once each in the second half along with sophomore Samantha Solis for the final margin.
Jeff Carr
“We got better as the game went on,” said Easter Florida head coach Jeff Carr.
“We scored a goal quickly and then we looked a little flat.
“As the game went on we got in behind them.”
The match was the Florida College System Activities Association/NJCAA Region 8 opener for Eastern Florida and Broward.
The visitors fell to 1-5-1 overall and play the Titans twice more this season. The Titans also play Polk State College three times to determine which one team advances to the NJCAA District H title game where a bid to the NJCAA national tournament is at stake.
Eastern Florida plays Polk for the first time in Auburndale on Tuesday.
The Titans host the national tournament for the second year on the Melbourne Campus in November and the fourth year overall. Eastern Florida is the host through 2016.
“It was just hard work,” said McRae.
