Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (October 6, 2007) - Ashley Flateland scored the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute to put the Tampa Spartans (9-1-1, 3-0) ahead for good en route to a 2-1 victory over the Nova Southeastern Sharks (7-2, 3-1) on Saturday evening at the NSU Soccer Complex in a wild game that featured one red card for each squad and five cards combined.

The two teams battled to a deadlocked 0-0 score until the NSU goalkeeper Sarah Glass was sent off with a red card for touching the ball with her hands outside of the 18-yard box. Tampa forward Marissa Mohammed had a step on the NSU defense, forcing Glass out of her six-yard box. In an attempt to keep the ball away from Mohammed, Glass smothered the ball but, unfortunately, was outside of the penalty area.

With first string goalkeeper Megan Kim (So., Valrico, Fla.) already out with a leg injury, NSU midfielder Alyssa Quevedo (Fr., Miami, Fla.) promptly strapped on the gloves, donned a bib and stood between the pipes for NSU for the rest of the game. Quevedo was tested early, stoning Alison Penland on a well-placed direct free kick.

At halftime, the Sharks held a 7-4 advantage in shots and committed six fouls to Tampa's four.

Early in the second half, an inspired NSU side took a 1-0 lead after Lauren Prow (Fr., Valparaiso, Ind.) put the ball in the back of the net, despite the one-man disadvantage, dribbling the ball down the middle of the UT defense and ripping one past Spartans' 'keeper Shannon Aitken.

The Sharks' lead lasted for 12 minutes, however, as Mohammed got free at the top of the 18 and slotted the ball past Quevedo to equalize.

Flateland would score the go-ahead goal following a pass from Courtney Evans.

Things got interesting in the 88th minute when Shannon Agnew was sent off with a red card for elbowing Sharks' defender Jennifer Turner.

Despite a furious even-strength attack led by Shurell Burton (Jr., Palm Bay, Fla.) and Prow, Aitken and the Tampa defense kept the Sharks off the board and held on for the victory

For the game, NSU outshot Tampa 13-9 while Tampa committed 13 fouls to NSU's 12. The Spartans also held a 5-1 corner kick advantage.

Aitken made four saves while Quevedo and Glass made two saves apiece.

NSU will return to action on Saturday, October 13 when they host the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish at 8pm at the NSU Soccer Complex.