MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—The biggest game of the 2015 Sunshine State Conference women's soccer season…so far…comes on Saturday in Winter Park, Fla., as the eighth-ranked Barry Buccaneers visit 16th-ranked Rollins.
The SSC regular season title has come down to this game for the last two years, with Barry winning both. In 2013, Barry prevailed 1-0 on a goal by Lavinia Nkomo in Winter Park. In 2014, it was Barry 2, Rollins 1 in Miami Shores as Nkomo and Shanice Robe accounted for the goals. In both seasons, it was Rollins' only loss in conference, while Barry went undefeated with one tie.
Both teams enter the game with identical 8-2-0 records and are tied atop the conference standings at 4-1-0. Barry fell in overtime at Lynn, while Rollins dropped a 2-1 decision at Tampa.
The past few years, Rollins has been the stronger offensive squad, while Barry has boasted the better defense. This year, the roles are flipped as Barry ranks second in the SSC in offense, averaging 2.2 goals per game, while Rollins is seventh at 1.9. On the defensive side, Barry is also second, allowing just 0.89 goals per game, while Rollins gives up 1.2. Barry has six shutouts, while the Tars had recorded five clean sheets.
The Bucs' are the more highly decorated with returning conference Player of the Year Nkomo, returning co-Defensive Player of the Year Katie Turner and returning conference Freshman of the Year Christy Grimshaw. Nkomo is tied for the team scoring lead with seven goals and four assists with Robe, a returning first-team all-conference pick. Grimshaw has added three goals and two assists, with two of her three goals acting as game-winners. Amanda Traynor leads the team with six assists and has four goals of her own. Turner, along with keeper Paula Forero, has played every minute this season, after playing every minute last year as well. Forero has a 0.89 goals against average and 76.9 save percentage.
Junior forward Emma Bloom leads the Tars with seven goals, while junior Paxton Sickler and freshman Kathryn O'Brien each have four. Junior Samantha Collin leads the team with three assists. Senior Mary Spring has split the keeping duties with freshman Carly Stevens. Springs is 5-1, while Stevens is 3-1-0.
The series is the oldest in the SSC, dating back to 1984, the first year of women's soccer at Barry University. The Bucs hold a 17-7-2 edge in the series, after winning the first 14 in a row. The Bucs have had good success at Sandspur Field as well, winning 10 of 13 games.
Tale of the Tape:
| TEAM STATISTICS | BARRY | ROLLINS |
| SHOT STATISTICS | | |
| Goals-Shot attempts | 22-159 | 19-75 |
| Goals scored per game | 2.20 | 1.90 |
| Shot pct. | .138 | .109 |
| Shots on goal-Attempts | 74-159 | 80-175 |
| SOG pct. | .465 | .457 |
| Shots/Game | 15.9 | 17.5 |
| Assists | 24 | 10 |
| GOAL BREAKDOWN | | |
| Total Goals | 22 | 19 |
| Penalty | 0 | 2 |
| Unassisted | 3 | 10 |
| Overtime | 1 | 2 |
| Goals scored average | 2.17 | 1.87 |
| CORNER KICKS | 61 | 34 |
| Goals off corners | 1 | na |
| PENALTY KICKS | 0-0 | 2-3 |
| OFFSIDES | 23 | na |
| PENALTIES | | |
| Fouls | 91 | 91 |
| Yellow cards | 5 | 4 |
| Red cards | 1 | 2 |
Fans that can't make it to the game can watch all the action live on the Geico Tars Sports Network on RollinsSports.com:
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