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UT Women To Play For NCAA Soccer Title

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By DANIEL BOYETTE, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 30, 2007

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - Marissa Mohammed and Reesey Bernard each scored in the first half, and the University of Tampa women's soccer team held on for a 2-1 win over top-ranked Grand Valley State in the Division II semifinals Thursday afternoon at the Orange Beach SportsPlex.

With the victory, No. 14 Tampa (19-2-2) avenged a 2-0 loss to the Lakers in last year's semifinals and advanced to the championship match for the first time in program history. The Spartans will play Franklin Pierce on Sunday at 1 p.m.

"I thought the girls were very determined," Tampa coach Gerry Lucey said. "Last year, we didn't take the opportunities we were presented. This year, we knew we didn't fear them. We had a lot of film and knew that we could get after them and cause an upset."

Tampa was able to hold Grand Valley's top-ranked offense in check most of the match. The Lakers, who entered averaging 4.35 goals a match, managed just six shots. Great Lakes Region player of the year Katy Tafler was held scoreless on two shots, in most part by Tampa's Ashley Flateland, who shadowed Tafle all afternoon.

The Spartans struck first in the 18th minute when Mohammed got a shot past Grand Valley keeper Kristina Nasturzio. With just over two minutes remaining in the half, Tampa scored its second goal when Nasturzio tried to clear the ball, only to hit a charging Bernard, who got enough leg on the ball to put it into the net

"The defender passed it back to the keeper, and the keeper decided to take a shot, so I decided to close in fast, and she took a little too long on the ball," Bernard said with a smile.

Grand Valley (21-1-1) came out firing at the start of the second half, and Ashley Elsass drilled a shot from the left side past Tampa's Shannon Aitken to get the Lakers on the board less than three minutes in. Grand Valley had two other opportunities to tie the game, but couldn't follow through for the remainder of the half.

UT Volleyball Falls In 5 Games At Elite 8

TOPEKA, Kan. - The University Tampa was the No. 1-ranked team and defending national champion, but Washburn had homecourt advantage.

Tampa won the first two games in the quarterfinal match of the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship, but the No. 4 Lady Blues rallied for a 3-2 victory.

The Spartans' bid for a second straight national title ended with Washburn's 24-30, 22-30, 30-18, 31-29, 15-8 victory before a crowd of 2,231.

Tampa, making its 11th Elite Eight appearance, finished the season with a 32-3 record.

Katelen Dixon led Tampa with 18 kills and 18 digs. Danielle McDonald had 15 kills and Alisha Green had 14.

Washburn All-American right side hitter Tessa Jones had a school-record 30 kills.

Tampa never trailed in the first game.

The second game was tight early, as well, with Washburn holding an 8-7 lead when Tampa took control with a 7-3 run.

Washburn, dependent Jones the first two games, began getting kills from other players to win the third game.

The Spartans regained their edge in the fourth game, taking a 15-9 lead on a block by Green.

Washburn (38-3) rode its momentum into the fifth game, winning the first six points. The Lady Blues continued to dominate the game, building leads of 8-1 and 11-4.

Ken Corbitt

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