Tyler Blackwood’s Hat Trick Leads Tampa to Win Over Nationally Ranked Opponent

Box score

TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 10 University of Tampa men's soccer team defeated the No. 18 Clayton State University Lakers by a score of 3-0 on Saturday night at Pepin Stadium. The win improves Tampa to 3-0 on the season as the Lakers fall to 2-2.

The Spartans struck first in the 21st minute. Tyler Blackwood was fed the ball by senior Dominic Cutrofello for a scoring opportunity. Blackwood was able to beat Laker goalkeeper Sean Merfield on his right side for the first goal of the match and the first of his career.

Three minutes later, Tampa managed to double its lead. A ball off the foot of freshman Naysir Rodriguez was saved by the Laker keeper. Blackwood immediately capitalized on the rebound by putting the ball past Merfield and into the net. Spartans led 2-0 by the end of the first half.

In the 83rd minute of the second half, Blackwood aided in extending Tampa's lead once again, also collecting a hat trick on the score. A cross from Spartan sophomore Jagger Martinez found Blackwood in the box. Blackwood shot the ball the past the keeper's right side, finding the back of the net for his second goal of the game and of the season.

The hat trick for the Spartan sophomore is the first since Ryan Griffin on Oct. 19, 2011 and the 39th in program history. The win is also the first victory over a nationally-ranked opponent since a 1-0 triumph over Lynn University on Oct. 1, 2011.

Both teams recorded 13 shots in the game. Spartan goalkeeper David Niepel collected six saves in his ninety minutes of play and his third win.

Tampa will travel to Melbourne, Fla. to face Florida Tech on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. Live stats and an audio webcast is available through tampaspartans.tv.

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