UT Continues Top-25 Showing
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The University of Tampa women's soccer team is now ranked No. 23 in the current National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) top-25 poll after being No. 16 in last week's edition.
Tampa is one of two Sunshine State Conference schools represented in the poll as conference co-leader Rollins is No. 15. Fellow NCAA South Region foes West Florida (3) is also ranked.
The Spartans are coming off a week where they came away with a pair of Sunshine State Conference draws. UT tied Rollins 0-0 and then concluded the week with a 1-1 deadlock at Florida Southern.
As a team, the Spartans rank 10th in the nation in scoring offense (2.94) and 07th in GAA (0.573).
Lauren Moore is 24th in points per game (1.88), 18th in goals per game (0.824), 13th in goals (14) and 13th in points (32). Cici Gonzalez is 32nd in points (26) and 18th in game-winning goals (4). Gabby Russo ranks 33rd in assists (7) as Courtney Peffley is 28th in assists per game (0.53) and 13th in assists (9).
Goalkeeper Kori Butterfield is also among the national leaders, coming in at 14th in GAA (0.547) and 17th in minutes (1,480).
UT also appeared at No. 3 in the initial NCAA Division II South Region rankings, coming in behind West Florida and Rollins.
After opening the season at No. 8, UT has now been ranked in the top-25 for nine consecutive years, including a top-10 billing in the previous two. The Spartans have spent seven weeks in 2012 in the national top-25, including the past five.
The Spartans close out the regular season on Wednesday as they welcome Saint Leo University to Pepin Stadium for a 7 p.m., showdown. It will also serve as Senior Day for three Spartans playing their final regular-season match at home.