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Flurry of Goals Lifts Spartans Over Florida National
September 26, 2018

Flurry of Goals Lifts Spartans Over Florida National

The University of Tampa put four goals past FNU en route to victory.

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa women's soccer team found the back of the net three times in the first half and once in the second to blitz past Florida National in its final non-conference matchup of the 2018 season.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Tampa 4, Florida National 1

Records: University of Tampa Spartans (4-2-3) vs. Florida National (1-9)
Location: Pepin Stadium | Tampa, Fla.
All-time Series: This match was the first ever meeting between the two programs. Tampa now leads the series 1-0. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Half | Tampa nearly got off to the perfect start as Moeko Morse trickled a shot wide inside the first 60 seconds of the match. Emily Cady won a header 12 yards from goal and found Morse at the back post, but the freshman forward was unable to put the shot away. However, it did not take much longer for the Spartans to find the back of the net. Tampa would take the lead as Libby Wissman scored her first collegiate goal as a Spartan. Wissman lofted a shot into the far corner over the outstretched arms of Florida National goalkeeper Briana Gomez to break the deadlock in the 11th minute. Tampa would double its lead in the 23rd minute as Nastasia Asgedom fizzed a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area. Cady would make it 3-0 off a brilliant solo effort. The Florida Atlantic transfer picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, slipped past three defenders and slid the ball underneath the goalkeeper for her fifth goal of the season. The Conquistadors managed to pull a goal back on the stroke of halftime. Natasha Merangolis got her head on a Isabela Martins' free kick and put the ball past Megan Bromwell with just 30 seconds to play in the half. 
 
2nd Half | The Spartans nearly regained their three-goal lead in the 52nd minute as Camryn Johnson scored from close range off a Syd Griner cross, but the goal was waved off for offsides. Gabby Desautels would notch Tampa's fourth goal of the match in 64th minute, heading an Ashley Loeza cross into the net for her first career goal. Lisa Caprara almost made it 5-1 in the 68th minute, evading two defenders and firing a shot off the crossbar. The game was cut short due to lightning. 
 
 
 
INSIDE THE STATS:
  • Cady has now scored in three straight home games for the Spartans. She leads the team in goals with five and in points with ten. 
  • The Spartans outshot the Conquistadors 21-2 and took six corners while not allowing FNU to take a single corner.
  • Both Wissman and Desautels tallied their first goals at UT. They are the third and fourth players to do so this season after Morse and Julia Detwiler recorded their first goals as Spartans.
 UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will return to Sunshine State Conference play on Sept. 29 when the Spartans take on Florida Southern College in Lakeland at 7 p.m. 
 
Tickets: General Admission ticket prices for all Tampa regular season athletic events are $5. Youth (ages 12 and under) are admitted free of charge. Students and faculty/staff are admitted free with a valid UT ID.
 
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Photos Video Box Score Preview