Nov. 5, 2006
TAMPA, Fla. - After battling through a scoreless 77 minutes, top seed Tampa scored two goals in four minutes to earn a 2-0 win over second seed West Florida Sunday in the NCAA Division II South Region final. The same two teams met in last year's regional final in Pensacola with West Florida winning, 1-0. West Florida (15-3-3) had their 11-match unbeaten streak snapped. Tampa (17-2-1) will advance to the national quarterfinals.
"We absorbed some pressure, but that was part of our strategy," said head coach Joe Bartlinski. "We were playing in a tough environment on the road, but I was pleased with how our players worked and competed."
Shelby Kuni got Tampa on the scoreboard in the 78th minute on an assist from Samantha Robinson. Four minutes later, Jocelyn Charette added an unassisted goal for the final tally.
Freshman Courtney Jones (Panama City, Fla./Bay HS) recorded a season-high 10 saves in the loss. Tampa goalkeeper Shannon Aitken collected three saves.
West Florida finished the season with a school record 10 goals allowed. The previous record had been 11 goals allowed in 2003. West Florida's 15 wins mark the fifth consecutive season that the Argonauts have won at least 15 matches. The Argonauts 14 shutouts were one short of the team record set in 2003.
"We advanced to nationals for the fifth straight year, and this year's team was only the second team to advance to the second round of nationals," said Bartlinski. "We were disappointed with not getting to national finals, but we are not displeased by any means."
