Tampa Holds On To Defeat #6 St. Edwards

Box score

Miami Shores, Fla- The second ranked University of Tampa women's soccer team defeated #6 St. Edwards in their finale at the Barry Tournament,getting the deciding goal from Shelby Kuni in the 48th minute to capture the 3-2 victory. Tampa improves to 5-1 on the season following the win, and hands St. Edwards their second loss of the season to drop the Hilltoppers to 2-2 for the year.

St. Edwards opened the scoring in the seventh minute of the match, as Janae Averett took a cross from Kristi Morgan to put the Hilltoppers up 1-0. Tampa struck back in the 10th minute, as Courtney Evans scored her first goal of the season off a cross from Marissa Bernard.

Kuni gave the Spartans the lead in the 29th minute, stealing the ball from the defender in the 18-yard box and putting it neatly past the St. Edwards keeper for her first goal of the match. The junior striker added another goal that proved to be the game-winner in the 48th minute on a header off a cross from Alison Penland to put the Spartans ahead 3-1.

St. Edwards added a late goal in the 79th minute to close the gap to 3-2, thanks to a goal from Elizabeth Chen on a long pass from the back by Claire Cella.

Kuni led the way in the match for the Spartans, finding the back of the net twice to push her season total to five goals. Bernard and Penland each added an assist in contribution to the win. Shannon Aitken allowed two goals in net for the Spartans, making two saves to preserve the Tampa win.

The Spartans are back in action on Friday in Searcy, Arkanas as they visit Harding. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm ET.