Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

UT sweeps individual SSC titles

TAMPA -- The University of Tampa cross-country teams almost enjoyed dual championships at the Sunshine State Conference meet last weekend in St. Petersburg.

The women won the team title by 22 points but the men came up short, losing by one point to Florida Southern.

The strong team performances were secured thanks to the Spartans having the top individual male and female finishers, several all-conference performances and claiming three-fourths of the season awards.

In the men's race, Elias Gonzales (25 minutes, 40 seconds) and Dirk Bockel (26:12) finished first and second on the 8,000-meter course. Nick Kraus and Josh Moore placed eighth and 10th in 27:00 and 27:03.

Gonzales and Bockel were named first-team All-SSC while Kraus and Moore were named to the second team.

The women's race was not nearly as close. The Spartans, paced by individual winner Dee Dee Haefling (22:06), had four runners in the top five. Liz Bragg was second in 22:39, Erin Wilson was third in 22:55 and Allison Mascas was fifth in 23:11. All four runners earned All-SSC first-team honors.

And if their weekend wasn't big enough, the Spartans earned more honors this week. Gonzales and Haefling were voted the SSC male and female runners of the year, and Jarrett Slaven was named conference men's coach of the year.

VOLLEYBALL: The Spartans won their lone match last week, topping region rival Armstrong Atlantic.

During the 3-1 (30-19, 30-18, 28-30, 30-23) win, the Spartans had their 19-game win streak come to an end. Still, the victory was key as UT remains ranked No. 1 in the South Region and Armstrong Atlantic remains third.

Ania Ruiz had 22 kills in the match and Amber Langston and Ericka Womack had 12 each. UT hosts Florida Southern tonight at 7.

MEN'S SOCCER: When UT (3-8-1) fell to Christian Brothers University 3-1 on Oct. 15, it was the team's fifth loss in six matches. The Spartans' lone goal came in the 86th minute on Pierre Laurent's shot after a chip in the box by Robbie Folbrycht. It was Laurent's second goal of the season.

In UT's second game of the week, the Spartans fell to Thomas 2-0. The Spartans were without leading scorer Roy Fink, who had to sit out because of a suspension for receiving five yellow cards this season.

Kareem Escayg led Tampa with three shots, two on goal. Smith made one save. UT hosts Lewis (Ill.) Wednesday.

ALUMNI: Former UT soccer player Justin Throneburg has been elected to the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame. Throneburg, a goalkeeper, will be inducted along with six others Feb. 27.

During his final two years as a Spartan, Throneburg earned All-SSC and All-South Region first-team honors. He was a first-team All-America selection in 1991, one year after being named a second-team All-American. Also in 1991, he was recognized as the Umbro National Goalkeeper of the Year.

Immediately following his collegiate career, Throneburg was selected to join the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team.

Throneburg still holds school records with 16 career solo shutouts and a 0.59 single-season goals against average. His career goals against average of 0.76 ranks fifth all-time among SSC netminders.

BASKETBALL: The UT men's and women's teams were picked to finish in the top half of the league in preseason coaches polls released this week. In the men's poll, Florida Southern received seven first-place votes and was picked first. Eckerd was second and the Spartans were third.

On the women's side, UT was picked fourth. Florida Tech, a Division II elite eight qualifier last season, was selected second, just ahead of Florida Southern. Rollins, a perennial SSC power, was picked to win its fifth straight conference crown. The basketball season tips off in late November.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright