Spartans Clip Tritons in Overtime

TAMPA, Fla. - Despite two equalizers, including one late in regulation, the Triton men's soccer team lost a heartbreaker in its Sunshine State Conference opener on Wednesday when Tampa's Ramzi Toure notched the golden goal in a 3-2 overtime victory.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: Tampa 3, Eckerd 2 (OT)
Records: Tampa 2-1 (1-0 SSC); Eckerd 2-2 (0-1 SSC)
All-Time Series: Tampa leads, 45-34

HOW IT HAPPENED
* The Spartans got on the board early on a Bay Downing goal in the 13th minute set up by an assist from Juancho Fernandez.  The news got worse moments later for Eckerd when leading scorer Robert Labus went down with an injury and did not return.
* The Tritons equalized the match in the 34th minute on a two-pass sequence with Niklas Sommerer setting up Juan David Tejada, who finished from the top of the 18.  The match went to halftime knotted at 1-1.
* Downing struck again for UT early in the second half, once again assisted by Fernandez in the 62nd minute.
* A handball in the box gave Eckerd another chance to equalize in the 85th minute. Westleigh Rush buried the penalty kick past UT's Jake Richards, evening the score at 2-2.
* Tampa had a chance at the game-winner in the 89th minute but the attempt was stopped by EC's Alex Gott.
* The Tritons weren't as fortunate in overtime.  A ball in the box managed to deflect off the crossbar and fall at the feet of Toure, who sent it into the back of the net for the golden goal.

NOTABLE
* Eckerd was without Matheus Assumpcao, who was sidelined following an injury on Sunday.  Labus then went out in the 15th minute and Wyeth Leemon - who started in Assumpcao's spot - later left the field with an injury and did not return.
* Tejada's goal gave him at least one point in each of Eckerd's last three matches.  Sommerer has also recorded an assist in three straight contests.
* The home team has won the last three matches in the series.  Eckerd is the last team to win on the road, defeating Tampa in 2014, 2-0.
* Rush's PK attempt was the first of his Eckerd career.
* Tampa outshot Eckerd, 10-8, and held an 8-4 edge in shots on goal.
 
UP NEXT
Eckerd plays its conference home opener on Saturday, hosting Florida Tech at 7:00 PM.  Last year, the Panthers defeated EC twice during the regular season before the Tritons won on the road in the first round of the SSC Championships.