Harrison HaasORANGE BEACH, Ala. – After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, the University of Tampa women’s soccer team captured the program’s first National Championship with a 3-1 victory in penalty kicks over Franklin Pierce.
Ashley Flateland, who has since announced she would transfer (see related story), knocked home the game-winning penalty kick to give the Spartans a 3-1 decision in the third overtime. Shannon Aitken saved two PK attempts while the Ravens missed another to give Tampa the victory.
“Once they [FPU] missed the PK, we knew we won,” said Emily Stack.
Neither team could find rhythm in regulation or overtime, with Tampa outshooting the Ravens 11 to 7.
“We started out slow, but our players played with discipline and we showed we were the better team,” said head coach Gerry Lucey. “It was a well-deserved win.”
Three Spartans were issued yellow cards during regulation, with one each going to Nicole Murphy, Ashley Flateland and Marissa Mohammed.
Shelby Kuni made the first penalty kick and Aitken saved Franklin Pierce’s first attempt. After another Ravens miss, Courtney Evans’s shot hit off the crossbar and into the keeper’s arms.
Aitken saved an attempt from Gabrielo Demo, which set up Megan Tobin’s first shot of the game. Tobin, a freshman with a game-winning PK on her record this season, nailed the attempt.
With the score at 2-1 after three attempts, a Ravens’ miss or a Spartans goal would have ended the game. Laura Stockdale kept the Ravens alive, but Ashley Flateland nailed the game-winner.
“It was worth every second coming to the game,” said Tampa fan Max Forsythe. “It was a long ride, and it’s been a great run this season.”
— Harrison Haas contributed to this article.