Spartans Draw Lions 1-1

TAMPA, Fla. – The Spartans faced off against SSC conference foe, the Saint Leo Lions at Pepin Stadium on Saturday evening. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 

Final Score: Tampa Spartans 1 - Saint Leo 1

Records: Tampa Spartans 5-1-7, (1-1-6), Saint Leo Lions 7-4-4, (3-3-3)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

FIRST HALF:

Tali O'Leary set the tone, ripping a shot that struck the cross bar in the first 44 second of the game. Spartans continued to pepper the keeper with shots, forcing her to make two saves. In the 18th minute, Lions started to find their groove offensively, registering two shots in a minute. The Lions earned a corner in the 33rd minute, Julia Gonsman hit a in-swinging corner, Aidan Smith went up for the save as two Lions crashed the goal. The ball made contact with the traffic in the box, hit the crossbar and bounced into the back of the net. Spartans out-shot the Lions 9-4 in the first half.

Lions 1 - Spartans 0

SECOND HALF:

The first minutes of the second half consisted of both teams trying to keep possession. In the 55th minute, Smith sent a goal kick down the right side, Lions outside back gained control of possession, turned to play the ball back to her keeper, but under-hit the pass. Nellie Bryneus took advantage of the mistake by the Lions backline, she ran onto the ball, touched it around the keeper and passed it in for the equalizer. The Lions desperate for a game-winner, forced Smith to make two saves in the final minutes of the match. 

Spartans 1 - Lions 1

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Spartans out-shot Lions 12-8
• Bryneus has 2 goals on the season

UP NEXT: The Spartans head to Melbourne, facing off against Florida Tech on Monday at 7:00pm

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