Late Game Heroics Surge Spartans Past Lions

FLORENCE, Ala. - The Tampa Spartans women's soccer team took on the North Alabama Lions in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday afternoon and came out on top by a score of 1-0. 

The first half of play was a back and forth battle, with neither side holding much possession relying heavily upon their respective counter-attacks to kickstart their offenses. Tampa would look to utilize their set piece plays to try and get on the board first, earning five corners. Both sides would continue to grind out the half eventually heading to the locker rooms 0-0. Second half action was similar to the first a both sides stretched themselves to the limit to find an advantage.

However, their tactics changed, the Lions would take seven corners in the half, and the Spartans would utilize their counter attack to spark their offense, Both sides would continue to battle the rest of the match. In the final seconds of the match, Nastasia Asgedom would take a pass, turn and shed her defender streaking up the sideline. She would send a low cross into the box to be met by senior captain Cici Gonzalez, who drove home the game-winner to send UT to the sweet 16.

Stepping up big for the Tampa was keeper Caroline Frykgard and the defense in the second half, after denying attack after attack from North Alabama.

The Spartans will return to action on the 20th to take on Barry in the sweet 16. The team will travel to Jefferson City, Tenn for the matchup at Carson-Newman University.

Further information on the game will be announced later via TampaSpartans.com. Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/tampaspartans) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans). UT also offers blAst, a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com