UWF Women's Soccer: Argos use valiant effort to beat Nova Southeastern, advance to NCAA Sweet 16

Quick starts over the past two matches has helped the University of West Florida women's soccer team advance through the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Two days after a first-half score was more than enough against Lee, the Argos needed every bit of their early offense to hold off Nova Southeastern.

UWF moved on to the NCAA South Region Final after collecting a 2-1 victory over the Sharks during a chilly, windy and overcast Saturday afternoon from the UWF Soccer Complex. It's the second-straight year West Florida has been one of the last 16 teams standing.

"Sweet 16, that's not bad," said head coach Joe Bartlinski, who has guided the Argos to 17 NCAA Tournament appearances during his 21-year tenure.

Mya Swinton and Blair Cowan each scored for West Florida during the match's first 23 minutes. Luana Grabias cut NSU's deficit in half with a goal in the 58th minute. The Sharks produced a 7-4 advantage in second-half shots, but none resulted in an equalizer.

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Improving its record to 17-3-1 this season, UWF is the No. 3 seed in the South Region while Nova Southeastern (9-3-4) was the No. 2 seed.

"We didn't know what to expect, especially playing a down-south team that we never played before, but it feels good. It feels good just to continue onto the Sweet 16," Argos fifth-year senior defender Kileigh Whited said.

West Florida plays the winner of No. 1 Embry-Riddle and No. 4 Florida Southern next week. The Eagles and Moc face off in a second-round match Sunday.

Here are three takeaways from Saturday's match.

'Bring some intensity'

UWF may have had the advantage of playing from home, but since they were higher seed, the Sharks entered the day with fresher legs.

Earning a first-round bye, Nova Southeastern had not played a match since falling in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament on Nov. 3.

Given the difference in activity between the two teams, the Argos put an emphasis on attacking in the first 45 minutes. If they were going to strike, it had to happen sooner, rather than later when a fatigue would be a factor.

However, just days removed from win-or-go-home match, West Florida was locked into postseason mode.

"Having to compete against Lee for that long, you have to bring some intensity," Bartlinski said. "So it was our plan to jump out early because we had a good understanding of what playoff soccer is like. Nova is so good, so well-coached, they move the ball so well, they play soccer the right way, but our DNA is to high-press and put pressure on a team. We were able to do that early in the first half."

Pressure is what led to the first goal of the match as sophomore midfield Ahnalle Layman intercepted a pass and pushed the ball into the box. Her cross was deflected before finding Swinton in front.

The redshirt sophomore and Gulf Breeze High School alum picked up her third goal of the season in the 10th minute. Swinton missed seven matches this season due to injury, but by being in the right place at the right time, she delivered her best moment of 2022.

"I was just there and I toe-poked it in. Then, I just looked around and was like, 'Wow, I just scored,'" Swinton said. "Coming off injury, this is just insane, but I'm just happy we won."

UWF doubled its cushion in the 23rd minute.

Redshirt junior midfield Manami Okada lifted a free kick into the box. Cowan made slight contact with the ball, but that was enough for it to bounce off the hands of Stefane Rosa and into the back of the net.

'A headache to keep up'

Enjoying an impressive season, Grabias is NSU's best player. She entered the second-round match with team-bests of 10 goals and five assists. She also has an impressive background, having capped for her home country of Brazil at the U20 level in 2019.

Even with all eyes on her, Grabias created numerous scoring chances. She posted a match-high seven shots, four of which were on goal.

"We just needed to stay tight and not let her turn, because when she does turn, she's dangerous," said Whited, who is a Navarre High alum. "Every ball that I could, I tried to beat her to it. I just didn't want her to turn me, cause I knew if she turned me, she'd be gone.

"Credit to her, she's a very, very good player. She's a headache to keep up with. ... She did get a goal, but we were like, "No, that's not going to happen again.' I think we defended her well today.

While Whited was the primarily player marking Grabias, limiting a player of that skill level took a team effort.

During the first half, Argos junior defender Kaytlyn Larsen made a beautiful slide tackle to stop the forward before she could release a shot. On a separate play, Garbias maneuvered around Larsen, but junior defender Bailey Erwig was right there to block a cross.

"There's specific game plan against any one player, but it's a team effort on how we play," Bartlinski said. "She's dynamic, they've got other dynamic players, but it's our system of play to be very aggressive."

'We ran out of gas, but we didn't run out of heart'

The Argos' intensity from the first half gave way to tired legs in the second. And nearly Grabias capitalized off it.

Receiving a long pass near midfield, the forward raced down the sideline as part of a 2-on-1 push. Rather than make a pass to her teammate, Grabias rocketed a shot, but West Florida goalkeeper Maciah Lipsey was in position for the stop.

In the 81st minute, the Sharks star dribbled around Whited and toward the top of the box, but her shot was straight, allowing Lipsey to make possibly the easiest of her five saves.

Lastly, Nova Southeastern was awarded a free kick just outside of the box. Grabias took the kick, but her strike went wide.

As the Sharks were pushing to save their season, the Argos were running on fumes, whether from defending their opponent's attack or holding the ball in the corners.

"We ran out of gas, but we didn't run out of heart," Bartilnski said. "That's what it took to be successful today, I couldn't be more proud of our players. It's so difficult to win national tournament games when you have one team rest and the other play, but our players did the right things and they stepped it up today. It was pretty exciting."

Swinton was one of the players that were visibly gassed. The forward was tasked with pressuring Rosa or a Sharks defender following every clearance.

"I think it took a lot of grit, a lot of fight," Swinton said. "Coach talks about fight a lot and that's what I wanted to bring today and I think all of my teammates did that too, so I'm proud about that."

Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (850) 503-3828, on Twitter @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Soccer: Lady Argos grind past Nova Southeastern, move to NCAA Region Final