Women's soccer team hitting stride as they head into national tournament semifinals

The Eastern Florida State College women's soccer team heads into Friday night's NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament semifinals playing some of their best soccer.

The Titans have recorded three straight clean sheets and have outscored opponents 23-4 in the five postseason games. They have been even better in the national tournament, shutting out both Iowa Western and Schoolcraft College in Pool D play.

"We are starting to peak at the right time, playing well as a team," Eastern Florida State College women's soccer head coach Jeff Carr said. "We are passing the ball well and moving off the ball really well. I think it helps that we are playing on a big field like this and are familiar with it. The credit goes to the kids, they have bought into what we are doing here and executing now."

While goalkeeper Sarah Deinert and the defense has been keeping teams off the scoreboard, the offense has found a rhythm as well as sophomore Nathali Da Silva and freshman Ebony Wiseman have scored at least one goal in each of the past five games. The trio of Da Silva, Wiseman and Katie Lockwood have scored 20 of the 23 Titans goals this postseason.

Now the Titans play No. 2 Tyler Junior College in the second semifinal Friday night at 8 p.m. at Titan Soccer Complex on the Melbourne campus of Eastern Florida State College.

Tyler Junior College defeated Cloud County Community College and edged Harford Community College in overtime to win Pool B. The Apaches are back in the semifinals after making it to the national tournament championship game last season, falling to Paradise Valley in the final and has won the title in both 2009 and 2011.

"They are traditionally here, year in and year out one of the best teams in the country," Carr said of Tyler Junior College. "It should be a great battle. Corey (Rose) is a good friend of mine and I am thrilled that we will be playing him."

The two teams met in the 2012 national tournament semifinals with the Titans winning on a last-second goal to advance to the championship game.

Admission to Friday night's game is $10 for adults and $7 for students. Children 5 and under, free. College students must present school ID.

The game will also be broadcast live on WEFS-TV and available via the station's @easternflorida YouTube Channel at no charge.