Spartans Open UP SSC Play Against Sharks

TAMPA, Fla.-- The University of Tampa soccer team will open Sunshine State Conference play at home against Nova Southeastern University on Saturday slated for a 6 p.m. start at Pepin Stadium.

The Spartans enter the contest with a 3-2 overall record and will hope to earn their first conference victory while the visiting Sharks will arrive with a 3-1 tally and a 1-0 mark in conference matchups.

Tampa took its home-opener Wednesday with a 3-1 win over Warner. Senior Keith Francisco notched a pair of goals, including the game-winner to give UT its third win of the season. Sophomore Jake Winship found the net for the third and final goal of the contest as the Spartans finished off the Royals 3-1 in regulation.

Francisco leads the Spartans offensively with three goals and six points. Francisco has fired off 18 shots placing eight on-goal, converting at a .444 clip. Junior Jason Collister follows suit with 15 shots and three points behind a goal and an assist.

Defensively, freshman Christian Knight has averaged 1.35 goals-against per contest while making 17 saves with a .708 save percentage in the keeper's first season of action.

NSU destroyed Florida Southern 4-0 in its last contest, Wednesday. Sophomore Soma Gubacsi scored a pair of goals against the Mocs to take the team-lead in goals. The Sharks offense is spread evenly as seven players have scored goals this season.

Tampa leads the series overall with an all-time record with a 15-5-4 tally. Spartans swept the 2014 series against Nova, defeating the sharks 2-0 in both matches home and on the road.

Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be available through 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