Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – For seven seniors playing in their final regular-season home contest, it was a fitting end.
Ironically, though, it may just be the beginning.
Sawyer Frank scored in the 28th minute, his third goal of the season, and the senior class was key as the Eckerd College men's soccer program pitched a shutout against the University of Tampa on Senior Night, 1-0.
Frank,
Drew Smith,
Thomas Serta,
Anthony Arico,
Alex Patterson,
Ben Donovan and
Jimmy Lawler, all started and donned the white and navy uniform for possibly the last time in their decorated careers.
But the Tritons (9-4-1, 3-2-1 SSC) snapped a tie in the middle of the Sunshine State Conference standings and enhanced their chances to host a postseason contest when the SSC Tournament rolls around.
Eckerd is now fourth in the conference standings after coming into tonight with a 2-2-1 league mark with the Spartans. Daunting road matches for the Tritons at No. 1 Rollins College and Florida Tech still remain on the docket.
Either way, this senior-laden squad is bound to be a dangerous draw when the SSC Tournament bracket finalized.
“You always want to remember Senior Night with a memorable win,” EC Head Coach Steve Magee said. “They really stepped up tonight for us and I'm very thankful for the contributions they've made to our program to help get us to where we are now.”
The Spartans (2-8-2, 2-3-1 SSC) played a scrappy 90 minutes even though they came into the game with just two wins on the season. Tampa, like Eckerd, battled-then No. 10 Barry University to a double-overtime draw.
The Spartans have had tough-luck defeats in the loss column, on the short end of four overtime matches on the season.
Frank crashed the box following an indirect free kick off the accurate leg of
Matt Duffy for the game's lone goal at the 28:16 mark. For the stalwart defender Duffy, it marked his fifth assist of the season.
The Duffy-to-Frank connection brought shades of resemblance back to their scoring hook-up against Florida College, when they cashed in on the same set piece.
Arico was a terror on the offensive end, firing seven shots on the night with five being on goal.
The Tritons will travel to No. 1 Rollins on Friday with a chance to make a big impression in Winter Park. Eckerd toppled No. 1-ranked Lynn University just three years ago in 2008 when Arico (a freshman) assisted the game-winning score in overtime.
