UT Women’s Soccer Continues Assault on Record Book as it Preps For Regional Final

TAMPA, Fla. - The No. 21 University of Tampa women's soccer team will face No. 2 University of West Florida for the NCAA Division II South Region championship, as the match is slated for Friday at 1 p.m., in Pensacola, Fla.

The winner of Friday's matchup between the Spartans and Argonauts will advance to the NCAA national quarterfinals on Sunday, to face the winner of the No. 1 Armstrong and No. 19 Columbus State matchup.

The Spartans have attained numerous accolades this season as the team has outscored its opponents 60-11. The 15-3-4 Tampa squad also won its third straight Sunshine State Conference tournament championship, and sixth in program history.

Tampa and West Florida are no strangers in NCAA tournament action as they have an all-time record of 1-1-1 against each other. In the last meeting, the contest ended in a 1-1 tie with Tampa advancing to the regional finals following a 5-4 shootout victory in 2010. In the other meetings, West Florida claimed a 2-0 victory in 2008 as Tampa won 2-0 in the 2006 regional.

SSC Player of the Year Lauren Moore has led the UT attack, ranking among national leaders in points per game (16th, 1.86), goals per game (16th, 0.818), goals (8th, 18) and points (7th, 41). SSC Freshman of the Year Cici Gonzalez also ranks nationally in points per game (44th, 1.5), assists (28th, 9), goals (37th, 12), points (25th, 33) and game-winning goals (17th, 5).

Senior captain Courtney Peffley, who already set the school record for games played (87) and games started (86), also ranks third all-time in career assists (28) and minutes played (7,050). Among national leaders this season, she ranks in assists per game (15th, 0.55) and assists (7th, 12).

Kori Butterfield, the most outstanding player of the SSC tournament, is seventh in the nation in GAA (0.465) and 11th in minutes played (1,936). Gabby Russo also ranks among NCAA leaders, coming in 28th with nine assists.

In the single-season UT record book, Moore ranks in points (5th, 41), goals (4th, 18), game-winning goals (8th, 4), shots (1st, 88) and shots on goal (3rd, 43). Gonzalez ranks in points (10th, 33), goals (9th, 12), game-winning goals (4th, 5) and shots (3rd, 86). Peffley is sixth in assists (12) as Butterfield ranks in save percentage (3rd, .815), GAA (2nd, 0.46), wins (5th, 15) and shutouts (6th, 9).

As a team, this year's Spartan squad ranks in points (3rd, 183), goals (3rd, 60), game-winning goals (5th, 15), assists (2nd, 63), shots (1st, 437), shots on goal (5th, 193), save percentage (3rd, .814), GAA (1st, 0.49), wins (5th, 15) and shutouts (4th, 11).