Tampa Knocks Off #5 Tusculum In Comeback Win

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - The No. 11 University of Tampa Spartans (18-3-1) overcame a two goal deficit against the fifth-ranked Tusculum College Pioneers (20-3-1) for a 3-2 double overtime win in the NCAA II National Quarterfinal. With the win, the Spartans advance to the NCAA II Final Four, held this season at UT's Pepin Stadium beginning Dec. 4.

"I'm very proud of our team. I'm happy for the University of Tampa, our soccer program and family, and the Sunshine State Conference," Tampa head coach Adrian Bush said.

"Without the demanding schedule of our conference and region, I don't know if we could have made it through today's match."

After fourteen minutes of back and forth play, the Pioneers got on the board with Bruno Conceicao's 24th goal of the season to put the Spartans down 1-0. In the 33rd minute, Tusculum's Corey McPherson beat goalkeeper Ryan Thompson for his seventh of the year to up the lead to two.

In the second half and trailing 2-0, the Spartans made adjustments to get back in the game. Following the first half goals, the Tampa defense shut down the Pioneers for the rest of the matchup.

In reference to his back line, Bush said, "(Kyle Williams) has been our unsung hero throughout the year. He's marked the opposition's top goal-scorer game-in and game-out."

In talking about his game, Williams stated, "I fed off the energy from all of our players. It was a very intense game. I had to perform and I had to make it happen."

And make it happen they did.

Off a cross from Tampa midfielder Zach Fraser, freshman Ryan Griffin headed the ball past Tusculum goalkeeper Lance Moore to move the Spartans to within one.

Later in the half while battling in the offensive zone, Griffin was issued a red card when he caught TC's Telmo Dantes in the face to put Tampa down a man for the remainder of the match.

With just over five minutes to go in regulation, however, UT's leading point-getter Pascal Milien was taken down inside the box, granting a penalty kick to the Spartans. Defender Dan Ingvarsson took the kick, blasting the ball into the back of the net to tie the game and send it into overtime.

The goal was Ingvarsson's seventh of the season and his fourth successful penalty kick in four attempts.

Through the first overtime, neither team could muster a goal. In the second overtime, Tusculum's Phillip Hagen had a shot on goal that was saved by Fraser on the goal line.

In the same sequence, the Pioneers' man-advantage was removed when Conceicao was issued his second caution of the match, giving him an automatic red card, when he took down UT's Milien. Play was delayed as Milien had to be helped off the field before being sent to the hospital.

On the ensuing free kick, Ingvarsson took a shot that was saved by Moore. After David Mitchell headed the rebound toward the goal, Tampa's Lister Warren knocked the ball across the goal line to seal the Spartan comeback for a hard-fought victory.

Assistant coach Maurice Loregnard said, "I am really proud of the guys for battling their way back to a victory today, but more importantly, getting UT back to division II soccer's elite in the Final Four, a place we haven't been since 2001."

Bush added, "I honestly feel that Tom Fitzgerald is looking down on this team right now." The late Fitzgerald was a former coach of the Spartans who led Tampa to a national championship in 1994.

"These guys have worked really hard, but I'm encouraging them to not be satisfied with what they've achieved so far," Bush said.

Williams echoed that statement in saying, "We're going to the Final Four. We're going to play our best and try our best to win."

Williams and Tampa will square off against Cal State-Dominguez Hills in the NCAA II National Semifinal held in two weeks.