Spartans Come in at No. 18 in Preseason Poll
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Coming off a 15-win season from a year ago, the University of Tampa women's soccer team is listed at No. 18 in the nation according to the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II preseason rankings.
The Spartans, who were No. 19 in the final rankings of the 2013 season, advanced to the NCAA South Region semifinals where they fell to Rollins College in overtime. Head coach Gerry Lucey has led the Spartans to four consecutive NCAA tournaments as his Spartans have also won three of the last four Sunshine State Conference tournament titles.
Tampa is one of two SSC schools in the top-25 as Rollins College comes in at No. 14. Regional foe West Florida sits at No. 2.
Tampa returns several key scorers who are among the six starters are back, with 10 letterwinners also returning on the 2014 squad. The top three scorers from 2013 each return as UT is also set to welcome back an award-winning player who redshirted in 2013.
After sitting out in 2013, Lauren Moore returns after being named the 2012 SSC Player and Offensive Player of the Year. As a sophomore, Moore was an All-American who led the team in points (41), goals (18), shots on goal (44), and shots (91).
Junior Cici Gonzalez is back after leading all Spartans last season with 15 goals. Gabby Russo and Chelsea Martin tallied seven and six goals respectively as Russo also led the team with 11 assists. Defender Candice Shields will lead her unit as Jenny Karl, Kaley Ward and Audrey Hayward are also returning starters.
UT has now been ranked in four consecutive preseason polls as the Spartans have been nationally ranked for 19 consecutive weeks. Additionally, UT has earned a mention in the poll in a total of 13 seasons, including 12 straight.
Lucey, the all-time winningest coach in program history, is 101-39-16 at UT as he also carries an overall record of 140-45-17 in 10 years of being a head coach.
The Spartans open the 2014 season on Sept. 4 versus Carson-Newman College at 5 p.m., at Pepin Stadium. The opening weekend will also feature a game on Sept. 8 versus Webber International at 5:30 p.m.