The University of Tampa women’s soccer team will travel to Columbus, Ga. to participate in the Columbus State Tournament.
The Spartans will open tournament play against Tusculum College, a team that beat them in heartbreaking fashion a year ago.
It was during the Columbus State Tournament in 2009 when Tusculum took an early 2-0 lead. UT was able to respond by scoring two of their own to tie it up in the first half. Then a very controversial call led to a Tusculum penalty shot, and eventual victory.
“We know we are the better team, and better individually,” Coach Lucey said.
He also mentioned that although the team got unlucky in the Tusculum game last year, they were not as good as they are this year.
With 13 freshmen, this is believed to be the best recruiting classes in years. The veterans on the team will play a key role in not only helping the team win now, but by mentoring the new players and helping them now as freshman.
One of those veterans is junior starting midfielder Samantha Kay. She did not need as much help as most her freshman year, as she started every game and led the team with four game winning goals.
Kay credits coach Lucey with helping her develop as a player tactically, and as a vocal leader.
She came in as a raw talented freshman, and has become a composed, vocal leader and has not missed a start along the way. Her game spoke for itself the first game against the University of West Georgia as her two assists helped the team get its first win of the year in the season opener.
The team is looking forward to the Tusculum game, but they have not overlooked any team thus far. “You have to take it one game at a time. You can’t overlook anyone, but we have the talent to take us there,” Lucey said referring to the team’s chances of playing deep into the postseason.
The team moved to 3-0 after overpowering Warner University in a 7-1 rout. The team played a smooth all around game as junior forward Jazmin Perry scored a career high four goals. On Sunday the team had to fight much harder to earn the win. A defensive game against Queens College was scoreless for 71 minutes.
Freshman Leah Cesanek was able to get her first goal of her collegiate career in dramatic fashion. That was all UT would need, as it held Queens to zero shots on goal. The team is now 4-0, rolling with momentum going into Friday’s matchup against Tusculum.
The upperclassmen that played last year all took the Tusculum loss personally and are yearning for redemption. Although early in the year, it is the biggest game of the year thus far, and one that the players have had marked off on their calendars since last year.
With Perry, Kay and others leading the abundance of talented freshmen, the University of Tampa Women’s Soccer team is hungry and has a very bright future ahead. “We have a better chance than last year because we have way more depth, and energy coming off the bench,” Kay said.
The team has sky-high goals after a disappointing year last year. “We have the talent to go a long way, it comes down to the players desires,” said Lucey.
John Hilsenroth can be reached at jhilsenroth@spartans.ut.edu.