NSU women’s soccer among South Florida colleges that advanced in national playoffs

Walter Villa
·3 min read

Miami Dade College’s women’s volleyball team came just two sets short of a national championship on Saturday night in Hutchinson, Kansas.

While that result was disappointing for the Sharks, five local college teams advanced in national playoff games this past weekend.

Here’s a closer look at the local teams who competed in elimination games over the past couple of days:

Matthias Lavenant tries to avoid a takeaway attempt by a Virginia defender during the FIU’s men’s soccer team’s 2-1 overtime loss to Virginia in the second round of the NCAA tournament this past weekend.
Matthias Lavenant tries to avoid a takeaway attempt by a Virginia defender during the FIU’s men’s soccer team’s 2-1 overtime loss to Virginia in the second round of the NCAA tournament this past weekend.

NCAA DIVISION I

FIU’s unranked men’s soccer team nearly pulled a huge upset in the second round of the playoffs, losing 2-1 in overtime at Virginia, a consensus top-11 squad. Joao Domingues scored for FIU (10-5-4), and Kasper Skraep provided the assist.

It was the third straight year that FIU’s soccer season ended with a one-goal NCAA Tournament loss against an ACC team, losing 3-2 to Wake Forest in 2021 and 1-0 at Duke last season.

FIU men’s soccer forward Eduardo Mustre (right) battles Virginia’s Austin Rome during this past weekend’s second round match in the NCAA tournament. The Panthers lost 2-1 in overtime.
FIU men’s soccer forward Eduardo Mustre (right) battles Virginia’s Austin Rome during this past weekend’s second round match in the NCAA tournament. The Panthers lost 2-1 in overtime.

NCAA DIVISION II

▪ The unranked Nova Southeastern University women’s soccer team knocked off No. 11 Embry-Riddle, 1-0, on Sunday. It was the second straight upset win for NSU (12-4-1), which beat No. 21 West Florida, 3-1, on Friday. Next, NSU will visit 17th-ranked Florida Tech in Melbourne on Friday.

▪ Barry men’s soccer team, ranked 15th in the nation, pounded visiting Lincoln Memorial, 5-1, on Saturday. Barry (13-4-1) will now travel to Gaffney, South Carolina to play 14th-ranked Limestone in the “Sweet 16” round of the playoffs on Nov. 30.

NAIA

▪ The host St. Thomas University football team – competing in the first playoff game in the five-year history of the program – routed 18th-ranked Reinhardt (Georgia), 55-7, on Saturday. The Bobcats (9-3) are one of 16 teams still alive, and they will travel to West Palm Beach to play Keiser on Saturday at 1 p.m. STU, ranked 15th in the nation, lost 21-14 at third-ranked Keiser earlier this season.

▪ STU’s 22nd-ranked volleyball team swept Marian (Indiana), 3-0, on Saturday for its first national-playoff win since 2001. The Bobcats (26-2) have now won 21 consecutive matches, and they are 26-0 when winning the first set. This is the most Bobcats volleyball wins since 1997, and they can add to their total starting on Nov. 29, when they will be one of 24 teams starting pool play at site of the national finals in Sioux City, Iowa.

▪ STU’s men’s soccer team, ranked third in the nation, improved to 17-1-2 with a 1-0 win on Saturday over visiting Menlo (California). The Bobcats advance to the national-tournament site in Wichita, Kansas, where 16 teams will converge. STU’s next game is on Nov. 27 against 12th-ranked Missouri Valley.

▪ The STU women’s soccer team, ranked 16th, lost in the second round, 2-1, to host Cumberland (Tennessee). The Bobcats, who got a goal from Sarolta Oppelland, finished their season 13-5-2.

JUNIOR COLLEGE

The aforementioned MDC volleyball team, which has won 10 national titles and has qualified for the national tournament 22 times in the past 24 years, won the first set 25-19 and then lost 25-16, 25-19 and 25-18 to Florida Southwestern State. Since 2005, this was MDC’s sixth second-place finish at nationals.

MDC (23-6) had two outside hitters make the all-tournament team: 6-3 sophomore Ana Tevdoradze and 6-2 freshman Katielle Alonzo. In addition, MDC setter Luiza Da Cruz was named Florida’s Freshman of the Year.