Spartans Fall in Battle Against Panthers at Home

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa men's soccer team falls in conference battle at last regular season home match.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final Score: Florida Tech 3, Tampa 2

Records: Tampa 7-5-2, 4-4-1, Florida Tech 10-5, 6-3

Location: Pepin Stadium | Tampa, Fla.

All-time series: The Spartans lead the Panthers 35-18-8 in the overall series.

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HOW IT HAPPENED:

FIRST HALF: The Spartans started the match off with a bang, with graduate student Pablo Marques netting a penalty kick to open the scoring just three minutes in. The Tampa offense continued to record shots and apply pressure on the Florida Tech defense. Goalkeeper Alex Hare made outstanding saves within two minutes of each other to keep the Panthers off the scoreboard. While Florida Tech tested the Tampa defense late in the half, Marques' early goal would prove to be the only one in the first 45.   

Score: 1-0 Tampa

SECOND HALF: The second half opened with high intensity, as Florida Tech was looking to get on the scoreboard. Just six minutes in, goalkeeper Alex Hare made a diving save to keep Tampa in the lead. With 33 minutes left in the match, the Panthers found the back of the net to tie it at one. Soon after, Florida Tech netted their second goal to go up by one. With 18 minutes left, Pol Aldabó tapped in a goal off a blocked shot from teammate Lorenz Offner to tie the match once again. Florida Tech would go on to net the go ahead goal with just over seven minutes left to play, taking the win.

Final: 3-2 Florida Tech

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Alex Hare started in goal for the Spartans, recording 6 saves.
• Two Spartans played the full 90 minutes Pol Aldabó and Cherif Tammar.
• Rodrigo Lopes and Viggo Svedin led Tampa in shots, with 3.
• Six Spartans recorded shots on goal; Aldabó, Tammar, Svedin, Marques, Lopes and Theo Maye.

UP NEXT: The Spartans finish off the regular season on Thursday, as they head to West Palm Beach to take on Palm Beach Atlantic at 5:00p.m.