Colleges: Lions earn victory, end Spartans' season

Saint Leo’s women ended the University of Tampa’s season as Sara Macko scored one goal and assisted on another to give the Lions a 2-1 victory at Pepin-Rood Stadium on Wednesday night.

The loss eliminated the Spartans from contention for the Sunshine State Conference, as Lynn’s 2-0 victory against Barry earned the Fighting Knights the No.6 and final seed in the tournament.

Macko gave Saint Leo the lead in the ninth minute, firing home a shot from the left side of the penalty area after picking up a cross by Francesca Williams. The goal was Macko’s eighth of the season.

Tampa tied the game before halftime, a poor clearance by the Lions’ defense coming to Megan Tobin, who capitalized on the error to score her third goal of the season, leaving the game even at the break.

Chrissy Darwell broke the tie in the 69th minute, though, as she headed home from Macko’s corner kick.

Had it won, Tampa would have earned the No.6 spot in the SSC tournament thanks to its 2-1 victory against Lynn earlier in the season. As it is, the Spartans young squad will return the bulk of its players for next season, with only Saige Steinmetz and Renta Figuera graduating from this year’s squad.

The No.4 seed Lions will next host No.5 seed Nova Southeastern in the opening round of the SSC tournament on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. After winning the conference tournament title a season ago as the No.4 seed, the Lions will try to make a repeat run this season.

College Women's Matchday: No.22 Lynn at Tampa

WHEN: Sunday, noon, Pepin-Rood Stadium.

NEED TO KNOW: The Spartans will try to bounce back from their loss Friday night at Nova Southeastern when they face the Fighting Knights, looking for their first Sunshine State Conference win of the season.

The young Spartans have lost four of their last five games against tough opposition, conceding at least three goals in three of their last four games. Saige Steinmetz did record a shutout against Georgia College and State in the Spartans 1-0 victory last Sunday, but will likely be tested by a Lynn attack that keyed a 3-0 victory against Barry on Tuesday.

The Fighting Knights are led by Melissa Ortiz, who has scored eight goals in 10 games this season. Lynn has averaged over two goals per game for the season. The Spartans attack may be able to find success, however, as Lynn has given up 14 goals on 48 shots on goal so far this season.

College Women's Matchday: Tampa at Nova Southeastern

WHEN: Friday, 6 p.m., NSU Soccer Complex

NEED TO KNOW: After completing an arduous non-conference schedule with a 1-0 win against Georgia College and State, the Spartans open Sunshine State Conference play against a Nova Southeastern team that enters the game on a three-game losing streak.

Included in that run are two conference losses, to Lynn and Florida Southern, and defeat in the Sharks’ last game against West Florida. Nova Southeastern last won on Sept. 16 with a 3-0 victory against Palm Beach Atlantic.

The young Spartans have had an up-and-down season so far, maybe best evidenced in their 4-2 loss to Armstrong Atlantic. There, Tampa took a 2-0 lead within the first six minutes, but were unable to hold off the Pirates, who rallied to take the lead before halftime. Coach Gerry Lucey will likely be looking for the more controlled game the Spartans played against GCAS, where they dominated shots on goal 17-7, and goalkeeper Saige Steinmetz had to make only two saves for her second shutout of the season.

Colleges: Tampa women end losing streak, beat Georgia College and State

Samantha Kay scored her second goal in as many games, and the University of Tampa snapped a three-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory against Georgia College and State in Savannah, Ga. on Sunday afternoon.

Tampa has started the game brightly, putting early pressure on the Bobcats goal, and Kay struck in the 14th minute, capitalizing on an opportunity created by Megan Tobin. The Spartans (4-5-1) maintained their pressure for the remainder of the half, outshooting the Bobcats 11-2 in the opening 45 minutes, but were unable to add to their advantage.

GCS (5-4-1) came back into the game in the second half, but rarely tested Tampa goalkeeper Saige Steinmetz, who had to make only two saves for her second shutout of the season.

The Spartans will now begin their challenge for a Sunshine State Conference title as they travel to face Nova Southeastern on Friday night at 6 p.m.