Soccer Squads Take Aim At Postseason
By Space Coast Daily // October 19, 2012
FIT Men's, Women's Teams In Contention
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Florida Tech men’s and women’s soccer teams play host to the Barry Buccaneers on Saturday in the final Sunshine State Conference games of the season.
The Panthers control their postseason lives. With wins against Barry, both teams would secure a spot for a chance at a conference tournament championship.
The top six teams from both the men’s and women’s standings earn a spot in the conference tournament.
Currently the Florida Tech men are in the sixth spot with eight points, one more point than seventh-place Nova Southeastern and one less point than fifth-place Saint Leo. A win against Barry this weekend would give the Panthers 11 points and put them out of reach of the Sharks, who can only earn a maximum of 10 points.
If FIT was to finish in a draw with the Buccaneers, they would need one of two scenarios to occur: a Nova Southeastern loss or draw, or a Saint Leo loss. If the Panthers lose on Saturday, they would need Nova Southeastern to lose in order to make it to the postseason.
On the women’s side, Florida Tech is currently seventh with eight points and it is one point ahead of eighth-place Barry. Three teams – Florida Southern, Eckerd and Lynn – are currently tied for fourth with 10 points, and both Eckerd and Lynn have finished conference play.
A win over Barry would give the Panthers 11 points and move them above both Eckerd and Lynn. A draw or loss against Barry would eliminate the Panthers from SSC Tournament contention.
The men’s team has appeared in the SSC Tournament in each of the last three seasons, while the women are entertaining a four-year streak in postseason play.
The women will take on Barry at 1 p.m. Saturday, and the men follow with a scheduled game time of 3:30 p.m. at Rick Stottler Field.
On Saturday, the women’s team will host their annual “Kick for the Cure” game to raise awareness for breast cancer. The team will collect donations during the game to benefit the Susan G. Komen Kick for the Cure Foundation.
They will also continue to collect new and used soccer equipment for “The GIVE N GO Project.”
