WINTER PARK, Fla. (November 15, 2009)
- Tampa jumped out to a two goal advantage in the first half and
held off Rollins down the stretch as the Spartans downed the Tars
2-1 in the second round of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer
Championship.
Tampa (16-2-1) advances to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament
and will play Lees McRae on November 21 or 22. Rollins season ends
with a record of 17-3-1.
The Spartans came out of the gate firing, getting off three shots,
one that was saved by Tars' keeper Aaron Rokeach, in the first
20 minutes. In the 26th minute, Rollins Adam New was booked for
a hard foul at the top of the box to set up a UT free kick. Dan
Ingvarsson took the try and looped the ball around the Tars wall
and into the net to make the score 1-0.
Rollins fought back in the 30th minute as J.D. Gruenewald strike
from the right was saved by UT keeper Ryan Thompson and a Thomas
Biddinger header off a corner kick sailed high. Tampa then
extended their lead in the 32nd minute with Brian Fekete connecting
a pass to Greg O'Connor for a hard strike and goal from the left
corner of the box.
The beginning of the second half was played in the midfield with
neither team gaining any ground. The trend continued into the 66th
minute when Jacob Deloach sent a high
arching ball into the box from near the midfield line. The pass
found the head of Bradley Welch for a header
into the back of the net, making the score 2-1.
In the 81st minute, Rollins appeared to score the equalizer on a
loose ball near the goal that was headed in by Dennis
Chin, but the celebration was stopped by the official's whistle
as the Tars were called offside. A final Biddinger header in the
85th minute was punched out by Ryan Thompson and Tampa was able to
hold on for the victory.
