#6 Tampa Returns to Winning Ways With Three Goals in Second Half

Box score

COLUMBUS, Ga. - The sixth-ranked University of Tampa (2-2) women's soccer team concluded the 2008 Cougar Invitational with a 4-2 victory over Tusculum College (1-3). UT came back from a 2-1 haltime deficit with three goals in the final 45 minutes.

Tusculum's Courtney Turner broke a scoreless tie in the 32nd minute as she capitalized on a Nicole Ferris corner kick. In took Tampa just 19 seconds to respond as Maria Mohammed evened the score at 1-1. Lauren Hammond was credited with the assist on Tampa's first goal.

Kelly Barron gave the Pioneers a 2-1 lead that they would carry to the half as she scored at 35:48. UT goalkeeper Kendall Bourdon kept the Spartans in contention as she registered two saves in the first half.

Tampa made the most out the game's 48th minute as Mohammed added her second goal of the contest while tipping in a Shelby Kuni shot at 48:20. Freshman Brittan Spence then gave the Spartans a 3-2 lead at 48:58 from classmate Jazmin Perry.

Kuni then added a late goal, scoring off a corner kick from Courtney Evans at 58:40. Bourdon tallied another save in the second half as she finished with three.

UT outshot Tusculum 20-9, including a 13-3 advantage in the second half. The Spartans also edged the Pionners 9-5 in shots on goal.

Tampa returns to action on Friday as it travels to Carrollton, Ga., to meet West Georgia at 5 p.m.