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 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.

Colleges: Spartans can't hold early lead, fall to No.19 Pirates

The Tampa Spartans scored twice in the first six minutes, but couldn’t hold off a solid Armstrong Atlantic attack, which rallied to earn the No.19 Pirates a 4-2 victory on Friday evening.

Brittan Spence gave the Spartans (3-5-1) a shock second minute lead, and the lead quickly became 2-0 in the sixth minute as Samantha Kay scored her first of the season.

But the Pirates hit back before halftime, Kristina Paschutti and Morgan Mitchell scored within three minutes of each other around the half-hour mark before Kristin Burton gave Armstrong Atlantic the lead almost on the stroke of half time.

Paschutti scored her second to put the game for the Pirates (6-1-2) in the 72nd minute, Burton adding her second assist of the night to add to her earlier goal.

The Spartans were unable to mount any serious threat on the Pirates goal after that, and will now try to regroup before they face Georgia College and State University on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Savannah, Ga.