Tampa Advances to SSC Final with Win Over Eckerd

BOCA RATON, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's soccer team (11-5) utilized a balanced attack and strong defense to advance to the final of the Sunshine State Conference Tournament with a 3-1 win over Eckerd College (12-8). The win marks the first SSC final berth for the Spartans since the National Championship season of 2001.

The Spartans opened the scoring in the second minute, when Ricardo Cardoso headed a Kevin Sierra cross past the Eckerd keeper to give Tampa a 1-0 lead. The goal marks his team-leading ninth of the season, and now gives him a team-high 21 points.

Joe Illet put the Tritons back on terms in the fifth minute with some assistance from his teammates John Fletcher and Will Thacker. Thacker started the play by sending a free kick to Fletcher on the Spartan back line. Fletcher then headed the ball into the box for Illet to put the ball past the Tampa keeper with a perfectly paced scissor kick.

The match remained tied at one until Clevon George gave Tampa a 2-1 advantage in the 55th minute with his seventh goal of the season off a cross from Pascal Milien. Milien added a goal in the 66th minute after a cross from Sierra, giving the Spartans the decisive 3-1 lead.

Ryan Thompson allowed one goal and made one save to improve his season record to 3-0. Sierra's two assists in the match moved him into a tie for second on the team with four assists on the season. Milien scored his second goal of the season, and claimed the team-lead in assists with his fifth of the year to lead the Spartans to victory.

Tampa returns to the pitch on Sunday in the conference final against former top- ranked Lynn, who lost their only match of the season to the Spartans on Sept. 29. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 pm. The match can be followed via the live stats link at tampaspartans.com.