Tampa Returns Home and Defeats Ranked Rollins

TAMPA, FLA. – The University of Tampa men's soccer team defeats #20 Rollins at home

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: Tampa 3 , Rollins 1

Records: Tampa 5-4-1, 3-2-1, #20 Rollins 7-3-2, 3-3-1

Location: Pepin Stadium | Tampa, Fla

All-time series: The Spartans hold an impressive 28-18-3 lead over the Tars in the overall series

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HOW IT HAPPENED:

FIRST HALF: The game began with a battle between the two conference foes. Senior defender Albert Morales netted his first goal of the season in the 32^nd minute of the match. Just four minutes later, Elijah Saint-Marc scored off a feed from Ornaldo Zeqiri to build the Spartan lead 2-0. The Spartans outshot the Tars 13-2 in the first half, with Captain Juancho Fernandez recording five. Score: 2-0 Tampa

SECOND HALF: The second half opened up with continued Spartan momentum from the first forty-five. The Tars cut the Spartans' lead in half at the 54^th minute with a goal. Less than one minute later, Nico Gamio netted a goal off of feeds from Fernandez and Omar Thali to get the Spartans' lead back to two. The Spartan offense would prove too much for Rollins. Final: 3-1 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Adam Forster started in goal for the Spartans, recording three saves
• Juancho Fernandez recorded 9 shots
• Three Spartans played the full 90 minutes, Cody Wells, Marcello Valbuena, and Albert Morales
• The Spartans outshot the Tars 21-8

UP NEXT: The Spartans return to road play as they travel to Lakeland on Wednesday to take on Florida Southern at 7:00p.m.