College Women's Matchday: Tampa at No.17 Florida Tech

WHEN: Saturday, 1:30 p.m., Rick Stottler Field

NEED TO KNOW: Coming off a disappointing loss to Rollins, where the Spartans held a 2-0 lead only to lose 3-2, Tampa (6-9-1, 2-4-0) gets a second straight opportunity to defeat a ranked opponent when it faces the Panthers.

Florida Tech (12-2-0, 5-0-1 SSC) is on a four-game winning streak after edging out Saint Leo on Tuesday 1-0 in double-overtime. Teresa Brantley, who won the SSC Offensive Player of the Week award last Monday, scored the only goal against the Lions, and leads the team with 10 goals. The Panthers are also strong in net, with Melissa holding opponents to 0.73 goals per game.

The Spartans’ loss to Rollins was their second in a row, and they will want to try and build momentum entering first a rivalry game against Saint Leo on Wednesday before the SSC Tournament begins. Jazmin Perry picked up her team-leading eighth goal of the season on Tuesday, as the Spartans are averaging almost two goals per game.

Colleges: Spartans can't hold lead against No.9 Rollins

Jazmin Perry and Courtney Peffley gave the University of Tampa an early lead, but the Spartans were unable to maintain their momentum as No.9 Rollins rallied for a 3-2 victory at Cahall-Sandspur Field on Wednesday night.

Perry gave the Spartans the lead in the 16th minute, scoring after Saige Steinmetz’s free kick into the penalty area wasn’t cleared by the Tars defense.

Peffley doubled the lead six minute later, capitalizing on more poor defensive play by Rollins to score her first goal for the Spartans.

"The girl’s played an excellent game again tonight,” Spartans coach Gerry Lucey said. “We were sharp, moved the ball quickly and intelligently.”

Rollins pulled a goal back before halftime, as Joy Powell’s pass found Mellissa Doerk on the right, and Doerk fired her shot into the left corner of the net in the 30th minute.

The game tightened at the beginning of the second half. Tampa’s Brittan Spence forced a save from Rolllins’ goalkeeper Michelle Dillingham, but Rollins tied the game in the 72nd minute as Charlotte Murrell headed home from Ashley Waplinger’s corner.

Rollins then found a game-winner five minutes later as Leah Hirsh’s drive from outside the penalty area gave the Tars victory.

Despite the loss, Lucey was pleased with his young side’s performance.

“We have outshot Rollins 10-8 and given them a fright,” Lucey said. “The team knows how happy I am with their performances and attitude and we just need to be able to finish games out. The future is very bright for these young and talented players."

College Women's Matchday: Barry at Tampa

WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m., Pepin-Rood Stadium

NEED TO KNOW: The Spartans will try to get back to .500 for the season as they host a Buccaneers side that has struggled to find success this season in the Sunshine State Conference.

Tampa (6-7-1, 2-2-0 SSC) has had an up-and-down season as well, hitting an upswing with a 4-0 win against Eckerd on Wednesday night as four different players found the net in the first half. With a tough end to the regular season ahead, including games against No.9 Rollins and No.14 Florida Tech next week, the Spartans will look to pick up another three points behind strike duo Jazmin Perry (seven goals) and Sara Kneeland (six goals).

The Buccaneers fell 1-0 to Saint Leo in their last game, and have only one win in Sunshine State Conference play this season and three wins overall. Melissa Madrid has had a good season for the Buccaneers with nine goals, but outside of a 7-1 drubbing of Eckerd, Barry has scored just twice in five SSC games.

Colleges: Spartans cruise past Tritons

Sara Kneeland and Jazmin Perry each found the net as the University of Tampa women cruised to a 4-0 victory over Eckerd, keeping the Tritons winless in the Sunshine State Conference.

Tampa (6-7-1, 2-2-0 SSC) dominated the entire 90 minutes, taking its foot off the gas after scoring all four goals in the first half. Kneeland gave the Spartans the lead in the third minute, scoring after being found in the penalty area by Brittan Spence.

Kneeland then turned provider as Samantha Kay scored her third goal of the season in the 18th minute before Perry scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season in the 22nd minute after a poor clearance by the Tritons defense.

Molly Gottlieb completed the rout in the 39th minute as she fired home from just outside the penalty area.

Eckerd (1-9-1, 0-6-0) wasn’t able to force much in the way of offense, recording only three shots, and forcing Kendall Bourdon into only one save for the shutout.

College Women's Matchday: Tampa at Eckerd

WHEN: Wednesday, 7 p.m., Turley Athletic Complex

NEED TO KNOW: The Spartans will try to bounce back from defeat to Florida Southern as they face an Eckerd squad that is winless in Sunshine State Conference play.

Tampa (5-7-1, 1-2-0) will likely have to win out to have a chance at the SSC regular season title, but shouldn’t have too much trouble with the Tritons. Eckerd (1-8-1, 0-5-0) has scored only three goals in 10 games this season, and is allowing an average of three goals per game.

That should be music to the ears of Jazmin Perry and Sara Kneeland, who lead the Spartans with six and five goals respectively.

College Women's Matchday: Florida Southern at Tampa

WHEN: Friday, 5 p.m., Pepin-Rood Stadium.

NEED TO KNOW: The Spartans (5-6-1, 1-1-0) will look to build on their 2-1 victory against Lynn as they host Florida Southern on Breast Cancer Awareness Night.

The Spartans are 12-4 all-time against the Moccasins, but Florida Southern won both of the team’s meetings last season, including a 3-2 overtime victory in the Sunshine State Conference tournament semifinals. The Moccasins are third in the SSC standings this season with a 3-1-0 record.

Kerri-Ann Brown and Princess Haley have each scored seven goals this season for the Moccasins, who defeated Barry 3-2 in overtime in their last outing. The Spartans have been led by Jazmin Perry’s six goals, while Sara Kneeland has score five times, including the game-winner against Lynn on Sunday.

Colleges: Tampa women can't solve Nova Southeastern

The University of Tampa women fell behind early, and were unable to manage a comeback as they fell 3-2 to Nova Southeastern in the Spartans' Sunshine State Conference opener on Friday night at the NSU Soccer Complex in Fort Lauderdale.

After falling behind 2-0 within the first 20 minutes, the Spartans pulled a goal back in the 32nd minute. Jazmin Perry scored her sixth goal of the season for Tampa (4-6-1, 0-1-0 SSC), beating NSU goalkeeper Sarah Glass after finding herself in a one-on-one situation.

The Sharks (5-4-0, 2-2-0) restored their two-goal advantage just before the hour mark, Kesiah Watley scoring her second goal of the season for a 3-1 lead. Tampa answered quickly, Caroline Spencer scoring the Spartans’ second two minutes later, but Tampa was unable to make its 17-7 advantage in shots tell as NSU held on for victory.

Tampa returns home for its next game against No.4 Lynn on Sunday at noon at Pepin-Rood Stadium.