Spartans Score Three Times on Senior Night Against Fighting Knights

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa women's soccer team hosted the Lynn University Fighting Knights on Senior Night in the second to last home game of the regular season. The Spartans came away with a dominating 3-0 victory on the night as three different players scored for UT.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Tampa 3, Lynn 0
Records: Spartans (6-4-1, 3-4 SSC), Fighting Knights (5-7, 3-4 SSC)
Location: Pepin Stadium | Tampa, Fla.

All-time Series: Tampa leads the all-time series against Lynn 15-5-3.

Follow Us: @TampaSpartans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Vimeo

HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Half | The Spartans began the game with emotions high after the senior day ceremony pregame and it showed as they controlled the pace of the game and held onto the ball attacking the Lynn backline trying to find a way through. The Fighting Knights were able to settle into the game and began to look for their chances, trying to take advantage of the Tampa players coming up the field and attack on the counter. The pace of the game was still dictated by the home side and it showed as the build-up of play on the offensive end led to Tampa scoring twice in a five-minute span. In the 26th minute, Robyn-Anne Whittaker drove into the box from the right side and crossed the ball on the ground, finding Emily Cady in the box for Cady's first Spartan goal that gave UT the lead. In the 31st minute, the duo linked up again this time in the middle of the field. Whittaker found Cady and she set her up with a pass into the box that Whittaker was able to run onto and tuck into the back of the net to double the lead. Tampa controlled the game for the rest of the half and threatened to increase their lead. 

2nd Half | The team started the second half where they left off at the break as they kept chasing for more goals. Shortly after the start of the half, Syd Griner added her first goal of the season to the box score as she scored on a pass from Lacy Nasello for the 3-0 lead. UT kept the pressure on LU after the goal and gave the Fighting Knights no breathing room as every pass they made was made with pressure from the Spartans and the visitors could not turn freely anywhere on the field. The offensive outburst in the game allowed for the Spartans to rotate players on and off as Sydney Ross and Taylor Jones both made their season debuts in the game. The pace of the game slowed down once Tampa opened their lead as Lynn was not able to threaten on the offensive end. The Spartans closed out the game to end senior night on a victorious note.

INSIDE THE STATS:
• Tampa outshot Lynn 23-11 overall and 9-5 in the second half.
• Miranda Gonzalez led the team with eight shots on the night.
• For Cady and Griner it was their first goals this season while Whittaker tallied her second.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Eight different players have scored for the team this year. 
• UT now has 14 goals in 11 games.
• This was the third shutout of the year for the Spartans and the first one that has not been 1-0.

UP NEXT: The team is on the road this Wednesday as they travel north to St. Augustine, Fla. to take on the No. 5 ranked Flagler College Saints. Kickoff for that match is scheduled for 7 p.m.

TAMPA SPARTANS MOBILE APP:
A free app is also available for free download through Apple and Google Play stores. Please search for Tampa Spartans Front Row.

RECEIVE TEXT AND EMAIL ALERTS:
UT also offers free messaging service for text and/or email, which sends alerts and press releases for Spartan teams. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com.