Falcons Top Titans in First Region 8 Meeting Since 2016

Daytona Beach, FL (dscfalcons.com)– The Falcons hosted Eastern Florida State College on Sunday, October 1st in a battle of Nationally Ranked Teams.  The 7^th ranked Falcons kicked off against the 2^nd ranked Titans after a midweek victory against Webber International University.  The game was played in difficult conditions with heavy rain and winds throughout the duration of the game, but lived up to its billing.

Both teams competed for possession in the first 20 minutes of the game and it wasn't until the 22^nd minute that the Falcons were able to break through. The goal was created off of a nice passage of play between Heather Nulty, Kaila Armstrong and Shanade Hopcroft.  Nulty and Armstrong lead the Falcons in total points on the season, with 16 and 18 respectively, and continued to show their strength as their quick ball movement created a perfect opportunity for Michaella Krebser to finish her team leading 7^th goal of the season. 

The Falcons held the lead going into halftime and were able to create two point blank opportunities within the first 15 minutes of retaking the field.  Cheyenne Beck was a real threat down the right hand flank where she served two crosses in the box that forced Eastern goalkeeper, Sarah Deinert, to make two fantastic saves.   The Titans leveled the score immediately following in the 54^th minute when Katie Lockwood received a ball from Nathali Da Silva. 

The game would go back and forth for the next 20 minutes until Armstrong served a dangerous ball in the box from a free kick near half field.  After a scramble between both teams, Hopcroft would ensure the ball ended up in the back of the net after the ball took a lofty bounce over the oncoming keeper for the Falcons second goal of the night. 

The unsung heroes were perhaps the Falcons' defensive line consisting of: Kristian Shores (Soph., New Symrna Beach, FL), Brittany Greene (Soph., Orange City, FL), Olivia Thomas (Soph., Port St. Lucie, FL), Maia Krebser (Soph., Bradenton, FL), Tyler Einsmann (Soph., Bradenton, FL). Shores would finish the night with 11 saves, including a full extension in the last few minutes of play. Krebser would also making a sliding save in the last 10 minutes of play, recovering behind Shores who came out to make the inital save on goal. As a team, the Falcons have given up 1 goal and only 24 shots in 630:00 minutes of play.

The Falcons held on to win the game 2-1 marking their first victory over Eastern Florida in program history.  The two teams will have a rematch in Melbourne on October 16^th.