Barry and Tampa to Play in the NCAA South Region Women's Final
Bucs and Spartans meet for the third time this year
By: Dennis Jezek, Jr. | Barry University Sports Information
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - [Bracket] - Barry University and University of Tampa are off on the next leg of the post-season as they head for Jefferson City, Tenn., to face each other. Barry and Tampa meet for the third time this year, second in less than two weeks.
The Bucs (14-2-1) shutout the West Florida Argonauts 1-0 thanks to junior keeper Paula Forero. Forero made six saves, including three in the second half on point-blank shots from the Argos, to post her ninth shutout of the season. Amanda Traynor scored the game-winner in the first half, with an assist from Rayah Seckler.
The Spartans (13-4-5) advanced off a Cici Gonzalez scoree with just 0:02 seconds left to beat the North Alabama Lions 1-0 on Sunday. For the Spartans, who had only two shutouts in the regular season, it was their second shutout of the postseason as they also defeated Lee 1-0 in the first round.
Forero and the defense have been the backbone of the team this season, posting a league-best 0.74 goals against average and nine shutouts. Forero earned first-team All-Sunshine State Conference honors and followed that up by picking up an All-SSC Tournament award. Defenders Amber Smith and Aly Picascio were second-team All-SSC and Smith also made the All-Tournament squad. Katie Turner, who was the 2014 co-Defensive Player of the Year in the SSC, made first-team all-conference for the second straight season.
Offensively, Shanice Robe (1st-team All-SSC and All-Tournament) is fourth in the league in points with nine goals and seven assists. Lavinia Nkomo (1st-team All-SSC) is fifth in the league in points with eight goals and seven assists. Both Robe and Nkomo have two game-winners. Amanda Traynor and Christy Grimshaw each have three game-winners, to lead the team. Traynor has six goals and seven assists, while Chrimshaw has five goals and two assists.
The Spartans also have a balanced attack, but Cici Gonzalez leads all Spartans with 12 goals. Nastasia Asgedom (5 goals), Korey O' Rourke (5 goals), Lauren Cicero (4 goals) and Lauren Moore (4 goals) have combined for 18 goals. Gabby Scirica and Miranda Gonzalez, who have both tallied seven assists on the year, serve as the catalysts for the offense.
Defensively, Caroline Frykgard and the Spartans' defensive unit have been a force to be reckoned with after posting a 0.98 goals against average and four shutouts. Frykgard has accumulated 95 saves on the campaign, boasts a 0.85 goals against average leads the SSC with a save percentage of 84.7.
The winner of the Barry/Tampa game will face the winner of the Southeast Region final that pits host Carson Newman against Columbus State. The quarterfinal match is Sunday, Nov. 22 at 1:00 pm.
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