Spartans Anxious to Take the Field as Weather Forces the Cancellation of Wednesday Practice

Pensacola, Fla. - Strong winds rain, and, more importantly, lightning forced the cancellation of practices at the Fall Festival in Pensacola Wednesday for the women's soccer teams set to battle in the final four of the NCAA tournament.

Ten minutes after the University of Tampa women's soccer team took the field for their morning practice it was over. Lightning forced the Spartans to take cover and head back to the hotel. Tampa hopes that their combination of a lightning offensive attack and a thunderous defense will help propel them into the National Title game Saturday in Pensacola.

The Spartans take on Grand Valley State Thursday in the first semi-final of the NCAA tournament for a right to battle for the National Championship on Saturday afternoon. For Tampa, it's a challenge they welcome and look forward to, but they also know it's not going to be easy.

"Nothing is easy when you get this far," said Bobby Johnston, Tampa's coach. "We know that every team that is here is here for a reason and you can't take anyone lightly." The Spartans have outscored their three NCAA tournament opponents thus far by a score of 10-0.

Things might have appeared easy for this team so far but Johnston and his players are quick to challenge that statement. "We pride ourselves on our defense and always have here at UT," said Johnston. "These ladies take it as a personal challenge not to give up goals."

It helps to have one of the best defenses in the country. Led by junior goalkeeper Shannon Aitken, senior and four time SSC defensive player of the year Malana Winskas, and junior Nicole Murphy, the Spartans have recorded 12 shutouts this season and have only allowed 12 goals in 21 games played.

Enter a Grand Valley State team that has scored 84 goals this season, and you quickly realize that something has got to give. "They know how to score," said Aitken. "We just have to keep doing what we've done all year."

So why does the defense seem so at ease? It could be because they too have a potent offense that has netted 72 goals in just 21 games. Sophomore sensation Shelby Kuni, freshman Jocelyn Charette, and senior Samantha Robinson have accounted for 52 of the 72 goals scored, including nine of ten in the NCAA tournament.

"They are a pretty good trifecta," said Aitken. " We know that when we start the offense from the back they are, more often than not, going to finish it."

Coach Johnston credits the overall team play for their success. " The defense knows the offense is going to score and the offense is very comfortable with the girls in the back not giving up any goals. They feed off each other," says Johnston.

On Thursday afternoon the feeding frenzy will begin in the NCAA women's soccer tournament. Tampa is looking forward to the challenge of bringing home their first ever women's soccer national championship.

Don't look now but a win by Tampa and a win by West Chester in the second semi-final will pit the Spartans against their former assistant coach Gerry Lucey. Lucey left the Spartans at the beginning of the year to take over the head coaching duties at West Chester.

"We've talked about how cool it would be to play against Gerry and his team in the finals," said Aitken. " He knows a lot about us and how we play. Right now it's Grand Valley. We'll worry about the next step when it gets here."