DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The University of Tampa men’s soccer team fought to the finish against Embry-Riddle on Wednesday evening, as Juancho Fernandez clinched the match with 20 seconds remaining in the second overtime period. Fernandez‘s multi-goal output helped the Spartans secure their first extra-time victory this season. Head coach Adrian Bush collected his 138th victory as the Spartans’ leader, making Bush the all-time winningest coach in UT history. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Tampa 3, Embry-Riddle 2 (2OT)

Records: University of Tampa Spartans (2-6-3, 2-5-0 SSC) vs. Embry-Riddle Eagles (2-6-1, 1-5-1 SSC)

Location: Embry-Riddle Soccer Field || Daytona Beach, Fla.

All-time Series: Tampa leads 6-2-2; The Spartans are unbeaten in the last eight meetings. UT is outscoring Embry-Riddle 21-4 in the last six matches. 

 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

1st Half | A back and forth half between the SSC-foes and Jake Richards finished with three saves on Embry-Riddle’s nine total shots. The Spartans laced off five shots of their own; Marcel Salokat had an opportunity after an Eagles’ turnover, however the shot was gathered up by Will Hanisch. Julius Becker had a solo breakaway with the goal-keeper but was denied by the official linesman who waved Becker offsides.

2nd Half | Embry-Riddle’s Teddy West was charged a yellow card in the 53rd minute after a risky slide tackle around mid-field. An exchange of penalty kick’s began in the 71st minute as West scored his third goal of the season to put the Eagles in the lead for about a minute. In the 73rd minute, Salokat added his fourth goal of the year as he completed a PK to tie things up at one apiece. In the 86th minute, Toni Soler crossed the ball into the box and Fernandez settled the cross, turned and buried a low-driven shot into the lower left corner past Hanisch. Embry-Riddle fought back in the 88th minute as a cross made its way through the UT defense onto the foot of Christian Mather, who tapped the equalizer past Richards.

Extra-Time | Soler provided Tampa with a golden opportunity as his corner kick reached the head of Fernandez, who connected with the cross-bar in the fifth minute of overtime. With 20 seconds remaining in the match, Rojay Smith flicked an overhead through-ball to Fernandez who cashed in the game-winner on a slight chip past the keeper. After tonight’s two goal-performance, the junior from Oviedo, Spain leads the team with five goals scored. 

INSIDE THE STATS: 

• This was the sixth extra-time match for Tampa this season.
• Fernandez logged his first multi-goal performance as a Spartan. 
• Fernandez and Salokat registered a goal in the same game for the third time this season.
• Richards earned his 18th victory as a Spartan, which ranks 4th in UT history for wins as a goal-keeper. 

UP NEXT: The University of Tampa will host another ranked opponent on Saturday evening when they welcome No. 11 Lynn University at 7 p.m.

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