FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Flagler College women's soccer team (0-1-1) went on the road for the second straight match and turned in a 2-2 draw at No. 6 Nova Southeastern (1-0-1) at Amerant Bank Field on Wednesday night. The Saints set the tone early with a pair of first half goals before the Sharks returned the favor over the final 16 minutes of action to escape with a tie.
SCORING SUMMARY
13' – Flagler –
Ella Gembicki (Assist
Phoebe Davidson)
15' – Flagler – Jacqueline DeStefano (Unassisted)
74' – Nova Southeastern – Jianna Ramirez (Assist Alexa Bereczki)
83' – Nova Southeastern – Genesis Hernandez (Unassisted)
TURNING POINT
Flagler made their presence felt quickly in Fort Lauderdale as the Saints jumped on the Sharks in the 13
th minute. The tandem of
Phoebe Davidson and
Netanya Brown connected on a beautiful give-and-go to set up the Saints goal. Just past midfield, Davidson delivered a pass to Brown who turned and sent a through ball down the left side of the box to a striding Davidson. The sophomore one touched a cross to the back post and found
Ella Gembicki in stride to put away the first goal of the match.
Just two minutes later, the visiting Saints extended their early advantage off the first corner kick of the day. Freshman
Ava Scott sent an inswinger to the back post and found the head of a leaping
Presley Ancheta. The senior sent a shot at goal, but the Sharks last line of defense deflected it forward and out of net. However, the deflection found the foot of freshman
Jacqueline Destefano who settled the rebound in front of the goal before putting it away in net for her first career goal.
The Saints backline held the nationally ranked Sharks scoreless for 73 minutes of action. Nova Southeastern would split the deficit in half in the 74
th minute as a deep ball was sent from midfield to the right side of the box. Alexa Bereczki settled the ball and sent a cross through the Saints backline and found a crossing Jianna Ramirez on the far side of the box and she buried the goal to bring the score to 2-1.
Just nine minutes later, the Sharks got the equalizer following a defensive miscue from the Saints backline. Following an effort to play it back to Barron-Gomez in goal, the Sharks pushed forward and forced a turnover inside the box, allowing Genesis Hernandez an open look at goal, which she cashed in to tie it up 2-2. Nova Southeastern carried the momentum into the final moments, generating a corner kick and a shot, but the Saints defense held tight to hold on to a 2-2 draw.
KEY STATS & NOTES
- Junior Ella Gembicki found the back of the net for the second straight match, and fourth time in her career. The Perry Hall, Maryland native finished with three shots.
- In her second career start, freshman Jacqueline Destefano buried her first collegiate goal and finished with two shots on net.
- Sophomore Phoebe Davidson notched her first career assist with a beautiful cross on the opening goal.
- Freshman Irina Barron-Gomez got her second straight start in goal and hauled in 10 saves.
- Netanya Brown, Presley Ancheta, Avery Raimondo, Ashley Wagner, and Eleanora Close rounded out the Flagler attack with a shot each.
- Six Saints, including Irina Barron-Gomez, Haley Stafford, Presley Ancheta, Ella Gembicki, Keali Foster, and Jacqueline Destefano played all 90 minutes of action.
- The high-power Nova Southeastern attack generated 22 shots and placed 12 of them on goal. Flagler countered the Sharks offense with 10 shots and four on frame.
- Genesis Hernandez connected on the equalizer on her 12th shot of the afternoon, and eighth shot on goal.
UP NEXT
Flagler will remain on the road as the Saints head to Lakeland, Florida for a Saturday night showdown at Florida Southern. Kick off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and the match will be streamed on the Sunshine State Conference Network.
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