Spartans Capture First Sunshine State Conference Crown Since 2001
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's soccer team (12-5) handed the Lynn Fighting Knights (15-2-1) their second loss of the season in the final of the Sunshine State Conference tournament by a score of 4-2. The win marks the second victory over Lynn this season, and gives the Spartans their first SSC title since the national championship season of 2001.
Ricardo Cardoso reached double figures in goals with his tenth of the season in the 14th minute off a cross from fellow striker Clevon George, giving the Spartans the early 1-0 lead. Cardoso found the back of the net again in the 35th minute, this time off a Dan Ingvarsson free kick, extending Tampa's advantage to 2-0 heading into halftime.
Lynn's Sam Craven cut the Spartans lead in half with his first goal of the season in the 54th minute, taking a free kick from Nano Short and putting it into the open net.
Ingvarsson scored what proved to be the game-winner when he converted a penalty kick in the 67th minute, giving Tampa the 3-1 lead. Short cut the Spartan advantage to 3-2 two minutes later, scoring an unassisted goal off a deflected pass for his seventh of the year.
Kevin Sierra found the back of the net for the fifth time this season in the 73rd minute, accepting a cross from Pascal Milien and putting it neatly off the right post to give the Spartans the final margin of 4-2.
Ryan Thompson allowed two goals and made three saves to improve his perfect season record to 4-0. With his assist on Sierra's goal, Milien regained the team-lead in assists with his sixth of the season. Cardoso now stands at 25 goals in his two-year career at Tampa, good for eighth all-time in the program's history.
Tampa returns to the pitch next weekend in the NCAA South Regional at a site to be determined.