Women's Soccer | 11/4/2018 10:34:00 AM

MIAMI SHORES, Fla.— The top-seeded Barry Buccaneers play host to the the Nova Southeastern Sharks on Sunday in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament Championship at Buccaneer Field. 

The Buccaneers shutout Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 4-0, while the Sharks defeated Rollins College 3-0 in the semifinals.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Records: #1 Barry (15-0-1, 9-0-1 SSC); #2 Nova Southeastern (13-5-1, 7-2-1 SSC)
All-Time Series: Barry leads 20-6-4

Barry and Nova Southeastern met in non-conference action on September 12th in Miami Shores. The Buccaneers were victorious, 2-1. Sarah Wignall and Molly Sharpe scored for Barry, while Adanna Edwards netted a goal for NSU. - FULL RECAP

In conference action, the teams came to a 1-1 tie on October 3rd in Ft. Lauderdale. Goalkeepers Melanie Ziegner and Natalie Robayna stopped four shots and allowed one goal in 110 minutes. Grimshaw and NSU's Emma Heikkila scored in the contest. - FULL RECAP

Barry owns the advantage between the programs over the last 10 years (6-4-3), including a 4-1 record from 2011 to 2015. On November 4th, 2016 Nova Southeastern defeated Barry (2-1) in the conference semifinals. It stands as the only SSC postseason match between the programs. Overall, the Bucs hold a commanding 20-6-4 lead in the series, including 10-3 at Buccaneer Field.

The Bucs are ranked ninth in the United Soccer Coaches poll, their eighth straight week in the top-10, heading into the game. The Sharks are unranked in the USC poll.

The Bucs lead the SSC in goal differential at +2.07 per game, thanks in large part to their dominant defense, that features five senior starters. Keeper Melanie Zeigner is the conference leader in goals against average, allowing just 0.29. She has seven solo shutouts in just 16 games, which is also tops, as is her 88.6 save percentage. The quartet of Jade Adams, Alyssa Lugo, Brittany Larosa and Yanni Asson, in addition to holding the opponents just under three shots on goal per game, have added a goal and five assists. The Bucs also lead the league in offense behind seniors Christy Grimshaw and Molly Sharpe at 2.63 goals per game. The duo rank first and second in the league in goals, assists and points. Grimshaw leads the way with 14 goals and 39 points, while Sharpe has 12 goals and 36 points. Sharpe is tops with 12 assists, while Grimshaw adds 11. Sharpe also has six game-winners, while Grimshaw has five. Grimshaw (Player), Sharpe (Offensive Player) and Adams (Defensive Player) swept the major awards for the conference this season, the first time a school has done so with three different players.

Nova Southeastern is second in the conference in scoring at 2.42 goals per game, but just third in margin behind the Bucs and Palm Beach Atlantic. Emma Heikkila, with nine goals and five assists, earned a spot on the first-team all-conference. Adanna Edwards was on the second team with seven goals and four assists. Natalie Robayna sports a 1.06 goals against average and 80.0 save percentage.

Winner of the women's tournament will receive automatic qualification to the 2018 NCAA Division II Soccer Championships. The opening rounds of the NCAA Division II Championship are scheduled for Thursday, November 8th - Sunday, November 18th at non-predetermined sites. Semifinals and finals for both men and women will be Friday, November 29th - Sunday, December 1st at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., as part of the NCAA Division II Fall Sports Festival. The NCAA will announce championship selections and seeding on Monday, November 5th, here.