EFSC Women Earn National Tournament Berth

By  //  November 11, 2013

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Men SOCCER ALSO RECEIVE NATIONALS BERTH

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Eastern Florida State College’s women’s soccer team scored two second-half goals to defeat host Jones County Junior College 2-0 on Friday in Ellisville, MS to advance to the NJCAA Division I Women’s National Championship Tournament for the second straight season.

Co-captains Sue Kumaning, center, and Jess Fassnidge, right, with the NJCAA District H championship plaque presented by Jones County Junior College Athletic Director Katie Herrington. (EFSC image)
Co-captains Sue Kumaning, center, and Jess Fassnidge, right, with the NJCAA District H championship plaque presented by Jones County Junior College Athletic Director Katie Herrington. (EFSC image)

The tournament will be contested Nov. 18-23 on Eastern Florida’s Melbourne Campus.

On Saturday, Eastern Florida’s first-year men’s soccer team will take to the Melbourne Campus field at 2 p.m. against Louisburg College for the right to advance to the NJCAA Division I Men’s National Tournament Nov. 18-23 at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, TX. Admission is free.

Eastern Florida’s women thoroughly dominated Jones County with the overwhelming majority of the action happening on the host’s side of the field in both halves.

MEN SOCCER ALSO RECEIVE NATIONALS BERTH

But the Titans were not able to break through until sophomore Devin McAllister, who had just subbed in, headed in a throw-in from sophomore Heather Williams with 36 minutes and 20 seconds remaining to be played.

The Titans continued to press and pressure and put the game away when sophomore Amanda Lodge found the left side of the net with 8:44 to play for the final margin.

The Eastern Florida women's soccer team poses with the district championship trophy after their win in Mississippi late Friday afternoon. (EFSC image)
The Eastern Florida women’s soccer team poses with the district championship trophy after their win in Mississippi late Friday afternoon. (EFSC image)

Williams had both assists for Eastern Florida.

The shutout victory, the eighth for Eastern Florida this season, raised its record to 11-2-1. Jones County finished at 17-2.

Eastern Florida, then Brevard Community College, advanced to the final of the 2012 national tournament in Melbourne but lost 3-0 to Paradise Valley Community College. That result gave head coach Jeff Carr and his players the impetus for the 2013 season motto “Unfinished Business” which the Titans hope to conduct beginning a week from Monday.

‘WERE THRILLED TO BE THERE’ SAYS COACH CARR

The Titans outshot Jones County 15-4 with goalkeeper Katelyn Kern, who has allowed only three goals all season, being called upon to make three saves.

Conversely, Jones County goalkeeper Briahna Dickerson was kept busy and responded with nine saves.

Jeff Carr
Jeff Carr

Carr was both thrilled and relieved at game’s end.

“We played a lot better the second half, we possessed the ball much better,” he said. “I’m thrilled and to a certain extent relieved. You travel 11 hours by bus, sleep in a hotel for two nights.

“Jones County was a very well coached team. They packed it in back there (on defense) and tried to counter out of that.”

Now, the Titans have a week to prepare for the national tournament on their home ground.

“We still have that goal (to win),” Carr said. “We have a lot to do. There will be a lot of fantastic teams at the tournament.”

“We’re thrilled to be there.”

Play in the 12-team tournament begins at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18.

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