No. 6 Spartans Fall to Tars in Conference Opener

WINTER PARK, Fla. – The University of Tampa Women's soccer team dropped their conference opening match to the Rollins Tars.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 

Final Score: Rollins Tars 4 - Tampa Spartans 1

Records: Tampa Spartans 4-1-1, (0-1), Rollins Tars 4-1-1, (1-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

FIRST HALF:

Spartans opened the scoring in the fifth minute of the match as Tali O'Leary sent a cross into the back-post, finding an awaiting Mimi Cronquist to volley it in. Lexie Cooper answered minutes later for the Tars off a free kick awarded deep in Spartan territory. The remainder of the half was a battle for possession as both teams kept their foot on the gas to be the first to find a second goal. 

Spartans 1 - Tars 1

SECOND HALF:

The Tars came out, pushed offensively, and never stopped. Briyah Drayton found the back of the net off of a corner that was awarded in the 49th minute. Minutes later, Lexie Cooper took a shot that was saved initially by Aidan Smith, however, on the rebound, Cooper touched it by Smith. The Spartans continued searching for a goal but struggled to put the pieces together in the final third of the field. In the 59th minute, the Tars found Cooper running into the box with a through ball, she managed to drive it back post past Smith.

Tars 4 - Spartans 1

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Smith totaled 5 saves.
• Lia Doohan registered 23 minutes, and 1 save.
• Spartans receive 8 fouls.

UP NEXT: The Spartans will return home to Pepin Stadium for a match Saturday against Lynn at 7:00 pm

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