Tampa Derails Florida Southern to Clinch Spot in SSC Title Match
WINTER PARK, Fla. - The No. 23 University of Tampa (13-3-3) women's soccer team turned in an all-around dominant performance with a 3-0 victory over Florida Southern College (6-8-4) in the Sunshine State Conference tournament semifinals.
The win puts Tampa back in familiar territory as it will attempt to win its third straight league tournament championship and the sixth in program history. The Spartans enter with an all-time finals record of 5-1.
"The team was fantastic tonight and thoroughly outplayed FSC," says head coach Gerry Lucey. "We are delighted at getting through to the championship game on Sunday."
Senior Courtney Peffley put the Spartans on the board with a 26th minute goal from Jenny Karl. Peffley fielded a cross from Karl, and found the back of the Mocs net for the first goal of the match.
SSC Player of the Year Lauren Moore would show why she was tabbed the league's top player as the sophomore scored the next two Tampa goals. The first came in the 28th minute on a pass from SSC Freshman of the Year Cici Gonzalez. Moore would add another with just over 10-minutes to play, with Peffley assisting the final UT goal.
"We had some very strong individual performances within the team that helped push us through," believes Lucey. "Defensively, we were sound, which gives you the platform to win."
Tampa outshot the Mocs 16-4, including an 8-1 advantage in shots on goal. Moore led the team with seven shots, including five on target. Gabby Russo tallied three as Peffley and Gonzalez each had two.
Kori Butterfield needed just one save to notch her seventh shutout of the season in goal.
Tampa advances to Sunday's championship match, where it will meet host and No. 14 Rollins College. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Live stats and a webcast will be available through TampaSpartans.com.
"Hopefully we can replicate this on Sunday and bring back another SSC crown to UT," concludes Lucey."
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