UT Advances to Program’s First NCAA Soccer Title Game

Box score

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - For the first-time in program history, The University of Tampa women's soccer team (19-2-3) defeated top-ranked and previously-unbeaten Grand Valley State, ending their season at 21-1-1. This also marks the first-time the Spartans have advanced to the NCAA II national championship game.

Tampa came out strong in the first period scoring their first goal in the 17th minute when Emily Stack sent a throughball to Marissa Mohammed, who corralled the ball about 12 yards out and fired a shot to the right side of the net, just outside the reach of the Lakers goalkeeper putting the Spartans up 1-0.

The first half ended on a goal by Marissa Bernard. Emily Berner, a Laker defender, being pressured by Bernard, played the ball back to Kristina Nasturzio, the goalkeeper. The Lakers keeper settled the ball and tried to play it out, but Bernard challenged and played it off the keeper's foot and into the net, making the score 2-0 with about two minutes left to play in the first.

The Lakers came out of the locker room on the explosive, with the Lakers midfielder Ashley Elsass scoring just 1:18 into the second period to make the score 2-1. Forward Katy Tafler controlled the ball at the 18-yard line and played it to Elsass, who was sweeping in wide on the left side. Elsass buried her shot past Shannon Aitken to cut the Spartans' lead in half.

Tampa's defense would not fold for the rest of game, amounting any movement from the Lakers offense. Despite being outshot 6-5 and the Lakers having a five to nothing advantage on corner kicks, the Spartan defense was in control of the game.

Aitken starting in goal for the Spartans collecting her 19th win of the season while making one save in a tough matchup.

The Spartans are set to square off for the national title against the winner of the Seattle Pacific and Franklin Peirce game at 1 p.m., on Saturday afternoon in Orange Beach, Ala.