SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo men’s soccer team (5-2, 0-2 SSC) dropped a 2-1 Sunshine State Conference heartbreaker to the University of Tampa Spartans (6-2, 1-0 SSC), Friday evening from University Field.
A one hour lightning delay pushed the original start back, but it did not stop the Lions offense as they aggressively pushed the pace of play from the beginning of the match. The Lions recorded their first shot-on-goal 17 seconds into the game, and over the course of the first 45 minutes Saint Leo peppered the Tampa ‘keeper with five additional shots-on-net.
The relentless attack finally broke through for the Lions in the form of a Edgar Herrera blast in the 21st-minute. The Saint Leo forward broke free down the left edge of the penalty area where he settled a pinpoint pass from Odyss Economides. In stride, the freshman rocketed a shot past the outstretched arm the Tampa goalkeeper and into the back of the net to put the Lions up 1-0. The goal was Herrera’s eighth on the season.
It appeared the Lions were in control of the game out of the halftime break, but a Kemal Malcolm shot from 15 yards away just nine minutes into the second half turned the tide of the game.
From that point forward, Tampa and Saint Leo exchanged blows in attempts to find the go-ahead goal. The Lions made the Tampa ‘keeper make four additional saves in the second half, while Lions’ goalkeeper Jake Hirst made a pair of difficult saves on a slick field to help preserve the tie.
Unfortunately, the Lions could not make it into the overtime period as a Greg Sasser connected on a header off a set-piece from nearly 25 yards out to make the score, 2-1.
The lead held over the final five minutes as a final flurry by the Lions went unsuccessful.
Hirst (4-2) made a season-high five saves in the contest, but it was not enough as he took the loss for just the second time this season.
It was the first time the Lions had conceded more than one goal in a game this season.
The Lions will return to action on Wednesday, September 29 when they travel to Lakeland, Fla. to take on the Florida Southern Moccasins in a pivotal conference match-up. Kick-off for the SSC showdown is set for 7:00 p.m.
