Tars Tie Tampa

WINTER PARK, Fla. (September 16, 2023) - For the third time this season, Rollins found themselves in a draw with the opposition, this time tying the Tampa Spartans 2-2 on Saturday night. The Tars now stand at 2-0-3 on the year, while Tampa moves ot 1-1-3.

The first half flew by as chances were few and far between. Tampa seemed content to sit back on defense in hopes of slowing down the vaunted Tar offense. The strategy worked as Rollins only managed four total shots, with one on goal in the first forty-five minutes. The most exciting play of the first half was Patrick Horan dribbling through four Spartans and firing a rocket that hit off the crossbar. 

The second half saw both teams become a little more aggressive. In te 53rd minute, Horan foudn himself ahead of the Spartan defense, and made his way into the box where he was tackled hard. A penalty was called, and senior captain Jari Polm delivered a strike to the lower right of the goal to give Rollins a 1-0 lead. 

A wild series of events happened midway through the second when Rollins fired off three shots on goal, each one miraculously saved by the Spartans keeper as he dive back and forth.

Minutes later, Tampa found themselves in the rare position of being on the attack. The Tars' Hayden Judge was called for a penalty inside the box, his second card of the night, putting Rollins a man down and giving the Spartans a chance to tie. Marcello Valbuena did just that with a nifty shot past the diving Maximillian Obermeier. 

With less than ten minutes remaining, Jorge Lameiras took a run down the right sideline, and found the ball at his feet. After a couple of touches, he ripped a laser to the far corner of the net to give Rollins a 2-1 lead. 

Tampa, playing with their backs against the wall and a man up, put a ton of pressure on the Tars on their next possession. On a corner kick, Theo Maye delivered a perfect ball to Valbuena whose header just made it past the outstretched fingers of Obermeier to tie the score again with only five minutes remaining.

Lameiras led the Tar offense with two shots on goal, one converted. Patrick Horan played well, putting three balls on target, but was not able to convert. 

Rollins will have a week to prep before their next game, which is at Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday, September 23 at 7:00 PM.