MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Spring Hill College's first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance came to an end Nov. 10, falling at No. 20 Barry University, 4-1, after a late surge by the Bucs.
"We came up against an excellent opponent tonight in Barry and they are moving on," said Spring Hill head coach
Steve Wieczorek. Â "But it doesn't diminish for one second what these boys have accomplished and where this program is headed on the back of the foundation made by our seniors and the talent we have returning in 2019."
Spring Hill and Barry battled to a scoreless first half with seven saves by
Barou Ndaw in the first 45 minutes. Ndaw finished with 10 stops in the game.
The Bucs came out on the attack in the second half, firing off three shots before connecting on their fourth in the 56
th minute – a goal by Lorenzo Cerrai, assisted by Flavio Colasanti.
Donte Oliver tied the game in the 76
th minute off an assist by
Tilman Schober, but Barry Answered six minutes later.
Stephen Kosmala gave Barry a 2-1 lead, assisted by Lucas Russo in the 82
nd minute, the first of three goals in three minutes. Colasanti followed with a goal off a cross from Cerrai, and then Luca de Biase aided a Francisco Aquirre goal to cap the Bucs' night.
The NCAA loss snapped a 14-game win streak by Spring Hill, which swept the Gulf South Conference regular season and won its first GSC Tournament Championship to earn its first NCAA DII bid. The Badgers finish their season with a 17-2 record.
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