Falcons Continue Winning Streak
Daytona Beach, FL (dscfalcons.com)- After a long hiatus due to hurricane Irma, the Falcons got back to their home pitch last night, Sept. 28th to take on Webber International University. Webber, an NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) school out of Babson Park, have had a successful season so far with an overall record of 4-1-0 and a conference record of 2-1-0, suffering their first loss on the season to Southeastern University this week.
"This past week we have focused on taking responsibility for our role in team play and working better collectively. I thought in the first half we were able to see glimpses of that in the number of opportunities we were able to create," said coach Jones.
During the first half of the match, the Falcons saw the majority of the possession rifling 13 shots and creating 7 corner kick opportunities, however Webber's keeper collected all efforts on frame. Sophomore, Shanade Hopcroft (Ayelsbury, England), scored the game winner 3 minutes into the second half, beating a defender near the top of the 18-yard box and finishing it passed the outstretched keeper's hands. This marks Hopcroft's second goal of the season.
The Falcon's second goal would not come until the 74th minute of play, when Kaila Armstrong (Sophomore, Broomfield, CO) played the ball forward to an oncoming Heather Nulty (Sophomore, Winter Springs, FL), who was being trailed by a defender. Nulty's defender, while getting a foot on ball, popped it into the air, setting Nulty up for a half volley at the top of the box, to which she finished in the top right corner of the goal. Cheyenne Beck's (Sophomore, Panama City, FL) goal would come two minutes later off a penetrating pass from Armstrong. Beck was able to turn her defender and sink her shot from 30 yards out.
"I thought our performance in the 2nd half was much improved as we were more clinical in front of goal," said Jones. "I am proud of the way the girls responded and performed in our first home game since preseason."
Both Nulty and Armstrong are currently tied for total points within the team at 16 a piece; Nulty with 7 goals and 2 assists and Armstrong with 5 goals and 6 assists.
The Falcons remain unbeaten on the season while also retaining shutouts in all 6 of their contests, giving up only 13 shots on goal. The team performance has propelled their national ranking from #11th in the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) poll to 7th in the country.
The Falcons next take the field Sunday, October 1st against Region 8 Conference rival Eastern Florida State at the Falcon soccer complex at 6:00 pm.
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