Two goals in a 26-second span put No. 10 Eastern Florida State College ahead for good as it rallied past Polk State Soccer on Tuesday, 3-1.
The Eagles (0-3, 0-2 Region 8) drew first blood in the 15th minute. Natalie Muchakati took the feed from Noemi Casique and drilled it into the left corner of the net.
Polk State goalkeeper Leona Kraus finished with 13 saves, including a pair of sliding stops to preserve the Polk State lead early on. The Titans held a 19-6 shot advantage and dominated possession in the second half.
After an offside call negated the tying goal early in the second half for Eastern Florida State, it scored twice in the 56th minute. Tiggi Gent tied things up before assisting on the go-ahead goal on a cross to Aimee Longhurst.
Polk State had a chance to draw even in the 87th minute when Eastern Florida’s Mia Castillo was assessed a red card for a takedown of Casique on a breakaway opportunity. Thina Ganto took the free kick but goalkeeper Jessica Reis made a leaping save to keep the Titans in front. Following a Polk State corner kick, Eastern Florida’s Lili Baidoe put the contest away with a breakaway goal in the 88th minute.
Emotions ran high for what was a physical match. Both head coaches were assessed with yellow cards. Eastern Florida’s Scott Carswell was assessed in the first half. Polk State’s Dee Shivraman was hit with the caution in the second. Assistants for both schools also received cards.
“We played very well in the first half and then lost our composure and lost our possession and organization,” Shivraman said. “Once Eastern scored, we lost bit of our confidence. We have to get back to our core and reinforce our good habits and keep striving towards improvement. I am confident in our players because in every game we have played, we have been very close to grabbing the win, including today.”
The loss is Polk State’s first in a home opener since 2013. The Eagles will aim for their first victory on Saturday when they visit Trinity Baptist College JV.
