College Matchday: No.9 Tampa at Florida Tech

WHEN: Saturday, 4 p.m., Rick Stottler Field

NEED TO KNOW: The No.9-ranked Spartans will try to keep the pressure on Rollins in the Sunshine State Conference title race when they travel to Melbourne to take on the Panthers.

The Spartans (11-1-1, 5-1-0 SSC) exploded offensively for six goals in their last outing against Nova Southeastern, Lister Warren and Greg Sasser each scoring twice in a 6-1 victory, continuing a trend that has seen Tampa average four goals per game in their last four contests.

The Spartans attack will likely test a Panthers defense that has allowed 1.50 goals per game this season. Florida Tech snapped a two-game losing run with a victory last Saturday against Nova Southeastern, but that was only the Panthers second SSC victory this season. The Panthers (7-7-0, 2-4-0) are led by Stanley Abade, who has scored seven goals this season.

Colleges: No.9 Spartans hit Sharks for six

Lister Warren scored twice in the first half, and Greg Sasser scored his first two goals of the season in the second as No.9 Tampa romped past Nova Southeastern 6-1 at the NSU Soccer Complex on Wednesday night.

Warren gave the Spartans the lead in the 15th minute before Greg O’Connor scored his second of the season two minutes later, driving home a shot from just outside the penalty area.

Warren added his second on the half-hour mark as the Spartans completely controlled the first half, allowing the Sharks only two shots on goal.

NSU did find the net just before the hour mark, Romain Onteniente heading home from Tim Taylor’s corner, but the Spartans regained their three-goal advantage when Pascal Milien scored in the 70th minute.

Sasser, brought on as a substitute for Warren, then scored twice in the final five minutes to complete the rout.

Tampa remains on the road this weekend as it travels to face Florida Tech at 4 p.m. on Saturday before closing the regular season with a pair of home games against Johnson and Wales and Saint Leo.