Spartans Conclude SSC Tournament as Runner-Up
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. - The University of Tampa (13-4-4) women's soccer team fell to No. 10 Rollins College (15-2) by a final score of 6-0 Sunday afternoon in the Sunshine State Conference final. The appearance in the championship match was UT's fourth in the last five years after winning three straight titles from 2011-2013.
Following a two hour and 40 minute weather delay Brenna McKee netted the opening goal of the match for the Tars in the sixth minute as Mora Johnson tallied the assist.
McKee struck again just two minutes later off a corner kick from Paxton Sickler. In the 16th minute she scored once again for the Tars taking a 3-0 advantage into halftime.
At the half, Tampa was barely outshot by Rollins 6-5 but couldn't connect on a goal. Cici Gonzalez and Lauren Moore each notched two shots with one on goal in the period. Amber Pennybaker also registered a shot in the half.
Sickler connected in the opening minutes of the second half while Johnson followed just minutes later. Sickler would add her second goal of the match in the 60th minute as the Tars took a 6-0 lead.
The final score would hold as the Spartans concluded the tournament as the runner-up. Miranda Gonzalez, Audrey Hayward, and Arielle Gonzalez each tallied second half shots for UT.
Rollins held a 13-10 advantage in shots during the match as well as a slight edge in corner kicks 3-1.
2014 SSC All-Tournament Team
Brenna McKee - Rollins (Most Outstanding Player)
Paxton Sickler - Rollins
Mora Johnson - Rollins
Lauren Moore - Tampa
Azure Dorsey - Rollins
Arielle Kabangu - Saint Leo
Amber Pennybaker - Tampa
Emma Bloom - Rollins
Lauren Manna - Barry
Cici Gonzalez - Tampa
Laura Carstens - Saint Leo
Tampa will now await word on future play with the NCAA South Regional Pairings to be released during the selection show on Monday at 7 p.m. For more information on women's soccer visit www.tampaspartans.com.
Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/utspartans) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans). UT also offers blAst, a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com.