SSC 40 Great Moments: Tampa Paves The Way

With a victory in the final game of the 1981 season, the University of Tampa became the first four-year Florida institution to win a soccer national championship. The 1-0 result over California State University - Los Angeles marked UT's first of many institutional national titles. 

Tampa withstood six consecutive mid-season away games and four overtime contests on the way to a 12-0-3 regular season. Coached by two Sunshine State Conference Hall of Famers, Jay Miller (HC) and Tom Fitzgerald (AC), UT earned a second consecutive NCAA tournament berth.

The undefeated Spartans hosted and defeated Rollins in the first round of the 10-team national tournament on November 21st, 1981. The win sent UT to Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut for the first national semifinal game in program history.

The Spartans squared up against the Midwest regional champs, University of Missouri - St. Louis, on November 27th. Tampa blanked UMSL by a score of 2-0 to gain entry into the title game. Peter Johansson broke open scoring at the 6:53 mark of the second half. Goran Swardh added an insurance goal soon after.

Cal State - Los Angeles downed host school Southern Connecticut State College 3-0 to meet Tampa in the championship game. Tampa entered the game 14-0-3, while CSULA owned a 20-2 record in 1981. The Spartans and Golden Eagles were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation, respectively.

An average New Haven temperature of 44-degrees awaited the two sub-tropic teams on Saturday, November 28th. The game opened and stayed a defensive battle throughout regulation as both teams failed to find the back of the net. During overtime, Johansson scored the game winner in the 92nd minute with a strike from 30 yards.

"To look back at what that national title meant to our university and city is something special," said current Tampa men's soccer coach Adrian Bush. "Those players and coaches set the standard as an athletic program that we all look to carry on today. Coach Miller instilled the vision that we all play for now, and that is to be a national champion on and off the field."

Tom Graham recorded four saves in the final game to help the Spartans earn the championship. He recorded six shutouts in 1981, including four-consecutive to finish the season.

SSC Hall of Famer and current Saint Leo University head coach Keith Fulk was also a member of the 1981 squad. Fulk coached Tampa to the 2001 national championship and was an assistant coach during UT's 1994 national title run.

"I was lucky to be a part of Tampa's national championship runs as a player, assistant coach, and head coach," commented Fulk. "The 1981 team may have been the best. The camaraderie was second to none, and Coach Miller had us peak at the right time."

Since the 1981 championship, the University of Tampa has secured a total of 14 national titles. The Sunshine State Conference has won eight men's soccer titles, three of which were earned by the Spartans (1981, 1994, & 2001), three by Lynn University (2003, 2012, & 2014), and two by Florida Tech (1988 & 1991).

About the 40 Great Moments Campaign
The "40 Great Moments" campaign exists to bring attention to the athletic excellence, academic excellence, community engagement, and sportsmanship that has made up the Sunshine State Conference over the last 40 years. Moments were nominated by current and former student-athletes, coaches, administrators, alumni and fans. The final 40 moments were decided upon by vote of conference Sports Information Directors. The "40 Great Moments" campaign will conclude during at 2016 Sunshine State Conference spring season. Check back for the next edition, which will be released on April 15th.
Follow the campaign on social media! #SSC40

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