Box Score TAMPA, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University men's soccer team was edged in an extremely even matchup with Sunshine State Conference rival Tampa on Saturday night, falling 2-0 on UT's Homecoming.
After a scoreless first half that featured eight shots for Tampa (8-4-2, 2-3-1 SSC) and seven shots for NSU (5-5-1, 2-4-0 SSC), it was more of the same to begin the second. It wasn't until the 68th minute when the home team was finally able to break through for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
On the play, Nikolai Hammer chipped a pass up and over the Shark defense to Keith Francisco, who placed it bottom left and past a diving
Andrea Giombetti (Sr., Rome, Italy) for the lead.
The Spartan defense held up that slim margin, fending off four Shark shots in the final 23-plus minutes. UT goalkeeper Zak Downes made two saves in that timeframe, including a snag of a crucial penalty kick with 12:57 remaining off the foot of
Victor Cardoso (Sr., Sao Paulo, Brazil).
Tampa was able to get an insurance goal with just 42 seconds remaining, on a 2-on-1 breakaway, as Hammer converted the score after passing back-and-forth with Kevin Knowles, notching the assist.
The shots were nearly even at the end, with Tampa leading that category, 18-17. Overall, Downes had nine saves, while Giombetti had six in the defeat. Cardoso had nine of NSU's 17 shots, with five of them on goal. Tampa was led by Francisco's eight (with three on target as well), while Hammer took seven shots and had three on goal.
Next up for the Sharks is their final road match of the year, against out-of-conference foe Flagler in St. Augustine. Game time on Wednesday is 6 p.m.
