JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.—The Barry Buccaneers play in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Quarterfinals on Sunday against the Columbus State Cougars at 1:00 pm at McCown Field on the campus of Carson-Newman University.
The Bucs advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003 and the 10th time overall on the strength of a 1-0 double overtime win over Tampa on Friday. The Cougars are making their fourth appearance in the quarterfinals since 2007. They won 4-1 over Carson-Newman on Friday.
The game features two of the hottest teams in Division II. The Cougars have ripped off 17 straight wins since a 1-0 loss to Rollins on Sept. 13. Barry is unbeaten in 11 straight since losing 5-4 in overtime to Lynn on Sept. 23.
Both teams feature outstanding defenses. Barry allows just 0.69 goals per game, while Columbus State is surrendering 0.67 per game. Barry has 10 shutouts in 18 games, while CSU has 12 in 23.
Junior keeper Paula Forero leads the Buccaneer defense with a 0.70 goals against average, 10 shutouts and an 81.9 save percentage. The Cougars' keeper Maylen Parsons has a 0.80 goals against average, four shutouts and an 80.7 save percentage.
The Cougars have a very explosive offense having tallied 80 goals on the season (3.52 per game). Seven players have scored at least seven goals, including 16 by leader Olivia Jarrell who scored twice against Carson-Newman. Jarrell has delivered five of the Cougars 20 game-winners.
Barry has found enough offense to win this season, coupled with their outstanding defense. The Bucs average 2.0 goals per game (36 in 18 games), led by senior forward Shanice Robe with 10. Lavinia Nkomo has eight goals, Amanda Traynor six and Christy Grimshaw five. Robe, Traynor and Grimshaw have each had three game-winners.
The winner of this game advances to the national semifinals in Pensacola, Fla., against the winner of the Bridgeport/East Stroudsburg quarterfinal. That game will be played at the Brosnahan Soccer Complex on Dec. 3.
