Spartans Capture SSC Tournament Championship

Tampa wins program's fourth tourney title.

Spartans Capture SSC Tournament Championship
November 5, 2017
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's soccer team picked up a late goal to capture the 2017 Sunshine State Conference Tournament championship.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Tampa 2, Rollins 1
Records: Tampa Spartans (9-3-3), Rollins Tars (11-5-1)
Location: Rinker Athletic Camp | West Palm Beach, Fla.
All-time Series: After taking both the regular season and tournament matches against Rollins, Tampa now holds a 27-16-2 edge in the all-time series with Rollins.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Half | The first 45 minutes was scoreless as neither team was able to find the net. Rollins was credited with seven shots in the half as the Spartans tallied one.
2nd Half | SSC Offensive Player of the Year Felipe DeSousa netted the first goal of the title match, coming in the 55th minute as he beat the Rollins keeper in a one-versus-one from teammate Marcel Salokat. UT would hold the lead until Rollins knotted the score at 1-1 with an 80th-minute goal from Matt Volk off a cross. As the match appeared to be headed to overtime, the Tars were called for a foul in the box, which resulted in a converted penalty kick by Salokat.
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH ADRIAN BUSH
"This team is all about character and all credit goes to these players for trusting in the process. To win this conference tournament is one of the hardest things to do with the quick turnaround in games. This was a "TEAM effort. We had some special performances, but I want to give two players in Zach Soufl and Jake Richards a well-deserved thank you. Without those two guys this weekend, we wouldn't be champions."
 
INSIDE THE STATS:
  • Rollins outshot the Spartans 11-5 in the contest.
  • The Spartans converted on each of their two shots on goal, with the Tars earning six.
  • DeSousa led the squad in shots with three.
  • Senior captain Bay Downing and Salokat each registered a shot as well.
  • Goalkeeper Jake Richards came away with five saves as he was tabbed the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
  • Rollins held an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks.
  • Fouls were 13-10 in favor of Rollins.
  • A total of five yellow cards were issued, with going to the Tars and two to the Spartans.
  • This marks the third SSC tournament title for Tampa, and first since 2010.
  • All three SSC tourney titles have come under the direction of current head coach Adrian Bush.
  • With 136 career victories at UT, Bush now needs one victory to match all-time winningest coach Tom Fitzgerald.
SSC ALL-CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
 Most Outstanding Player: Jake Richards, Tampa
Felipe DeSousa, Tampa
Stefan Abram, Rollins
Drew Trautmann, Rollins
Ramzi Toure, Tampa
Ben Grant, Rollins
Fritz Engel, Rollins
Marcel Salokat, Tampa
Lewis Sugden, Tampa
Charlie Dennis, PBA
Alun Webb, Lynn
 
UP NEXT:
Tampa will compete at the NCAA Division II South Regional, which is scheduled to begin November 9. The Spartans will look to defend their 2016 South region title.
 
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