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Tampa women soccer win national title

By Times wires
Published December 2, 2007

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - In just its 10th year of existence, The University of Tampa women's soccer team won the NCAA II national championship with a 3-1 shootout victory over five-time national champ Franklin Pierce College. With the game scoreless following regulation and two overtime periods, the 19-2-4 Spartans took the shootout to claim the program's first title.

After being outshot 4-3 in the first half, the Spartans held a 4-0 advantage in the second half. Through 110 minutes of play, UT held an 11-7 advantage in shots as both goalkeepers were perfect in net. Shannon Aitken made two saves for Tampa while FPC's Brittany Ester had four.

The shootout session needed just four shots for Tampa as Shelby Kuni, Megan Tobin and Ashley Flateland each connected for the Spartans. Aitken turned away the first three Raven shots before allowing one through. Flateland's penalty kick went down as the game-winner to clinch the victory for Tampa.

The two teams were similar in many categories, with each taking six corner kicks. The match also had 39 fouls, 20 for Tampa and 19 for Franklin Pierce. Shots on goal went in Tampa's favor at 4-2.

No stranger to national championships, UT has now claimed 12 national titles in the history of its athletics program. Recent success has been unparalled as Tampa has now won four national championships in less than two years. Women's soccer now joins baseball 2006, 2007 and volleyball (2006) as recent champs.

[Last modified December 1, 2007, 17:46:14]