Spartans net three goals in final ten minutes to sink reigning National Champions

Boxscore 

BOCA RATON, Fla. (September 13, 2008) - The University of Tampa scored three times in the final ten minutes to claim a 3-0 victory over defending NCAA Division II National Champion Franklin Pierce University on day two of the Lynn University/Embassy Suites Classic at the McCusker Sports Complex this afternoon.

The match was scoreless until 9:37 remaining in regulation, when Tampa freshman Jorge Jimenez (Geneva, Switzerland) scored on a breakaway off a pass from senior Ryan Maxwell (Clarendon, Jamaica). With Franklin Pierce pushing numbers forward for an equalizer, sophomore Lister Warren (Spanish Town, Jamaica) was sent off on breakaway down the middle by junior Pascal Milien (Auburndale, Fla./Auburndale), and scored a goal to double the Spartans advantage in the 86^th minute. Tampa rounded out the scoring with just 54-seconds to play when freshman Greg Sasser (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit) headed in a cross from freshman Ryan Griffin (Brandon, Fla./Tampa Prep).

Tampa, which has yet to allow a goal in four matches this season, got another clean sheet from junior goalkeeper Ryan Thompson (Kingston, Jamaica), who made one save. Freshman Vinny Papageorgiou (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) made his collegiate debut in goal for Franklin Pierce and posted three saves. The Spartans outshot the Ravens 12-5 for the match.

The Ravens best scoring chance came in the 35^th minute, when junior Kensaku Tsuji (Tokushima, Japan) had a header stopped by Thompson.

Franklin Pierce (2-4-0, 1-0-0 NE-10) heads back home to return to Northeast-10 Conference play on Tuesday night when it hosts The College of Saint Rose at 7 p.m. Tampa (4-0-0, 0-0-0 SSC) will visit Saint Leo University on Tuesday at 7 p.m.