Spartans, Nighthawks Draw in High-Scoring Battle

The University of Tampa ends in a deadlocked 4-4 tie against North Georgia.

Spartans, Nighthawks Draw in High-Scoring Battle

Team Stats

September 6, 2018

MORROW, Ga. - The University of Tampa men's soccer team finished in a 4-4 draw against the University of North Georgia on Thursday evening. The Nighthawks battled back and scored twice in the final 12 minutes of regulation to even the score. The Spartans put up 33 shots in total, 22 on target, and continued to apply pressure into extra-time but did not break the tie. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Tampa 4, North Georgia 4 (2OT)
Records: Tampa Spartans (0-1-2), North Georgia Nighthawks (0-1-1)
Location: Laker Field || Morrow, Ga. 
All-time Series: Series tied at 2-2-1.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Half | In the 12th minute, Till Neumann scored on a cross from Juancho Fernandez to give the Spartans a one goal lead. Neumann remained busy in the first half as he recieved a yellow card in the 19th minute. North Georgia evened things up in the 37th minute on a penalty kick scored by Adam Farrell. Farrell was charged with a yellow card in the 37th minute as well. Amgad Salah tallied his first goal of the year, from outside the box, in the 41st minute to give UT a 2-1 heading into the half. 
 
2nd Half | The match became a high-scoring affair in the second half as five goals were scored in the final 20 minutes. Eduardo Pessoa registered a goal in the 70th minute to even the score at two. However, UT found the net twice in less than a minute; Fernandez became a spark plug in the 73rd minute as he assisted Marcel Salokat's goal, then scored one of his own in the 74th minute. Pessoa, in the 79th minute, notched his second goal of the evening to cut the Spartans' lead to 4-3. Eren Ozer equalized the match in the 82nd minute on a penalty kick for the Nighthawks.
 
Extra-Time | The Spartans ripped 12 shots in the two extra time periods, but North Georgia goalkeeper Matt Sharman made six saves to conserve the even score. Neumann laced eight shots on the evening, five of which came during extra-time. 
 
INSIDE THE STATS:
  • The 33 total shots for the Spartans are the most since September 14, 2014 against Montevallo.
  • Fernandez's two assists matches his career total. He recorded two assists last season against Eckerd on September 20.
  • Jake Richards started in goal for the Spartans and racked up seven saves on North Georgia's 20 total shots.
  • North Georgia's Sharman had 17 saves on the evening.
  • The first and fourth goals by UNG were both scored on PKs.
UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will visit Clayton State on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Laker Field in Morrow, Ga.
 
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