Women's soccer team set to play Gordon State for spot in national tournament

The Eastern Florida State College women's soccer team will travel to Georgia to play Gordon State College for the South Atlantic District title at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The Titans are the Region 8 champion and are ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA Division I poll with an 8-0-1 record.

"I think we feel really good, it was really big to get that Daytona State College win, based off the game with Polk we were down a bit because it was a tie game and to come back and really play well against Daytona was good for us," defender Brazil Clark said of the Region 8 final. "I was really proud of our performance and I feel like we are ready for Saturday's game."

They will play Gordon State College who is the Region 17 champion and are 8-3 on the season. Gordon State has scored 38 goals in 11 games this season but is facing a Titans team that has allowed one goal in Region 8 games this season and just three goals in nine games. 

"I feel like our goal for every game is to have a clean sheet and win every game and that is how it should be – both during the regular season and now the postseason," defender Sofie Soerum said. 

The defense has been one of the strengths of the team all season and with players from all over the world, getting comfortable with each other was one of the first challenges.

"There was a little bit of a communication barrier but as we have played more games and we use gestures more than speaking, a lot of nods, especially early," Lydia Carroll said. "It keeps getting better and we have formed bonds with each other now."

For goalkeeper Marcelle Thedinga, who is among the NJCAA Division I leaders in save percentage with a .938, the defensive backs have been solid all season.

"They give me a lot of confidence to know that I have such a strong defense ahead of me," Thedinga said. "I think we communicate really well, and I know what to expect from the defenders and they have my back just as I have theirs."

The teams are no stranger to each other as the Titans defeated Gordon State in the semifinals lasts season and in the final two years ago. The winner of Saturdays final will advance to the NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament June 3-8. The Eastern Florida State College women's soccer team has made the national tournament for the past nine seasons.