Tampa Men's Soccer at No. 16 Ahead of Top-25 Battle
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The University of Tampa men's soccer program has moved up seven spots in the latest installment of the United Soccer Coaches (USC) NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Poll, coming in at No. 16 on Tuesday.
This marks the third consecutive week the Spartans have been ranked, as they were No. 23 in Poll 5 last week. UT entered the top 25 at No. 11 on September 28.
The Spartans are currently 8-2 on the season, and coming off a 1-0 road shutout over then-No. 13 Nova Southeastern University. Winners of two straight games, the Spartans are a perfect 5-0 in road games this season, as UT has yet to allow a goal on the road.
Goalkeeper Adam Forster leads a Spartan defensive unit that has six shutouts on the season, while allowing just eight goals in 10 games. Defender Agustin Baroffio has returned to the lineup while fellow defender Cody Wells has started all 10 games this season for head coach Adrian Bush's squad.
Offensively, a total of eight Spartans have scored a goal this season, as junior Omar Thali is the team leader with eight goals and four assists. Juancho Fernandez has totaled three goals and three assists while Travis Foster also has three goals on the season. UT has outshot its opponents 145-84 this season.
Fernandez, Forster and Wells are joined by midfielder Sean Quinn as the lone Spartans to start all 10 games, as a deep Tampa squad includes 18 players who have started a match in 2021.
The Spartan program is no stranger to the national rankings as the three-time national champions have now been ranked a total of 12 seasons. This is the 115th week UT has been ranked nationally.
Franklin Pierce University occupies the top spot in the rankings, as Saturday's SSC opponent, Lynn University comes in at No. 3. Other SSC opponents in the rankings include No. 10 Palm Beach Atlantic while Nova Southeastern is receiving votes.
UT and Lynn are set to meet on Saturday at 6 p.m., at Pepin Stadium. The match carries huge SSC meaning, with the Spartans 5-1 in league play. The Fighting Knights are the lone undefeated team in the conference at 5-0, while the Spartans and Palm Beach Atlantic are the lone 1-loss teams.