Box Score FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University men's soccer team (6-8-1) wrapped up the regular season slate with a loss against the Tampa Spartans (9-6-2), 2-0, Saturday at the NSU Soccer Complex.
Prior to the match, NSU honored six seniors competing in their final matches at the NSU Soccer Complex:
Andrea Giombetti (Rome, Italy),
Vincenzo Padula (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.),
David Robles (Miami, Fla.),
Victor Cardoso (Sao Paulo, Brazil),
Andrea Spuntarelli (Rome, Italy) and
Nicola Brivio (Gallarate, Italy).
The Sharks controlled the ball at the start of the half and spent a majority of the first half in Spartan territory. However, Tampa's counter attack was effective and the Spartans were able to gain the lead with a 12th minute goal. Nikolai Hammer took a shot from 30 yards out to put his team ahead.
NSU pressed the action in the first half to equalize.
Viktor Jonsson (So., Reykjavik, Iceland) had a clean look in the 35th minute, but could not get the ball past Tampa goalkeeper Zak Downes. Two minutes later, Tampa looked as if they would go ahead with three shots on goal in a span of seconds. However, Giombetti came through, saving all three before the Sharks could clear the ball out.
NSU came out aggressive in the second half, and nearly scored on a 35-yard strike from
Stefano Fanfoni (Jr., Cremona, Italy) that was saved. After only taking one shot over the first 23 minutes of the half, Tampa was awarded a penalty kick after a foul committed in the top right corner of the box. Tampa's Craig Laird took the penalty and placed it in the top left corner of the net.
NSU made several changes after the penalty to shake the match up, but the Sharks struggled to find clear chances late. In the end, NSU would take 16 shots to Tampa's 14. NSU made seven saves in the match, two of which came late from sophomore keeper
Jo Jien Lee (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).
NSU will move on to the quarterfinals of the 2014 Sunshine State Conference Tournament Tuesday in Winter Park, Fla. against the Rollins Tars at 7 p.m.
