Tampa Falls to Texas A&M-Commerce in Sunday Matchup

MELBOURNE, Fla – The University of Tampa women's soccer team continued their opening weekend of play as they faced off against the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions on Sunday morning on the campus of Florida Tech. Playing on a hot and humid Sunday morning, the Spartans dropped the contest 4-1 to the Lions.

The game started with a back and forth battle for possession in the midfield as both sides looked to get into  rhythm and get their legs under them as the effect of the weather was evident. Neither side could take advantage of the opportunities they had to start the game as the shots went clear of the goal and over the net. In the 16th minute of play, the Lions went up 1-0 as they took the lead via a penalty kick.

After falling behind by one goal, Tampa began to take over and had the better of the chances for either side as play remained on the Lions side of the field for the most part. In the 23rd minute, defender Miranda Gonzalez saw an opening and took a shot from outside the box that was headed for the top right corner of the goal but was deflected out just short of crossing the line by Lions goalkeeper Caitlin Duty for a corner kick.

Shortly after, the Spartans would tie the game at 1 goal apiece as Robyn-Anne Whittaker took the ball and ran into the box and after contesting a ball with a defender, was able to draw the foul, and the penalty kick was awarded. Midfielder Nastasia Asgedom stepped up to take the shot from the spot and went the opposite way of the diving keeper to score her first goal of the season as well as the first goal for the team this year. A corner kick by the Lions in the last minute of play of the first half managed to slip into the net and Kasey Sorbers was credited with the goal for Texas A&M-Commerce.

In the second half, the team was forced into an early mistake by the Lions offense as they conceded a goal in the 51st minute that saw them go down 3-1. Ten minutes later, a set piece play went against UT as Texas A&M Commerce found the back of the net for the fourth and final goal. From that moment on, the team tried their best to comeback in the game. However, the Lions held the advantage of being able to rotate more players in and out as they had more players dressed and tired legs took an effect on Tampa as they ran out of energy and time despite their best efforts.

On the offensive side, UT had more opportunities than Texas A&M, as they outshot the Lions 11 to 8 in the game and had a 7 to 3 advantage in corner kicks. It came down to the little details and communication between the lines as the team chased the deficit. 

The team will be back on the field on Friday, September 9 as they head north to take on Mississippi College in Florence, Ala. at 5 p.m. for their third straight neutral site game.

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