Andy Sullivan

On Sunday, Sept. 24, the Lady Spartans picked up an important conference win over the Florida Tech Panthers. For the second time in two games, the team had a player score a hat trick. SSC Player of the Week Shelbi Kuni led the team with her three goals and one assist.

Despite the sweltering heat, the team came out extremely aggressive. They consistently had two or three players swarming to the ball. It was a back and forth game with each team getting few scoring opportunities.

The Lady Spartans got their chance to score first when Kuni was awarded a penalty kick. She took advantage and scored her first goal, hitting it past the goalkeeper in the upper right hand corner. In the twentieth minute of the first half, Tampa picked up its second goal from defender Malana Winskas. She was able to chip in the ball following a corner kick.

Early in the second half, Florida Tech cut the lead in half with a goal from Terese Svenson to make it 2-1 Tampa. Tara Euginedes picked up the assist.

Minutes later the Lady Spartans would go on a scoring barrage with three goals in less than 10 minutes. Forward Jocelyn Charette scored a goal, her fourth of the weekend, that was set up perfectly by midfielders Samantha Robinson and Kuni. Kuni followed that with her second goal of the game, this one unassisted.

Minutes later, Kuni pulled off the hat trick with her third goal of the night. Defender Nicole Murphy was credited with the assist.

Midfielder Shannon Agnew finished off the victory with a textbook header off a pass from defender Marissa Mohammed.

The conference win was a huge step for the Lady Spartans in their quest for another conference championship.

“We played well all around,” said Winskas, whose first-half goal was her third on the season, “We played hard and had a lot of hard tackles.”

“I think we had good counter attacks this game,” added midfielder Danielle Celmer.

The team’s next game is against the University of West Florida Friday , Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. The team also plays Wednesday Oct. 4 vs. Nova Southeastern.

The Spartans have outscored their opponents 34-7 on the season.