Tampa men's soccer secures conference berth with late rally

The University of Tampa men’s soccer team locked in its spot in the 2026 Sunshine State Conference Tournament after a 2-1 comeback win against Nova Southeastern on Saturday night. The match concluded at Pepin Stadium with 500 spectators in attendance. The result lifts the Spartans to a 5-5-4 overall record and a 4-3-2 mark in conference play, bringing their total conference points to 14.

Nova Southeastern took an early lead when Erik Krohnstad scored in the 15th minute, assisted by Oscar Fernandez. Tampa goalkeeper Alex Hare made two saves in the first half to keep the deficit at one goal. The defensive shift after halftime proved decisive, as the Spartans prevented the Sharks from registering a single shot attempt for the remainder of the game.

Tommaso Polidori converted a penalty kick in the 47th minute, just 95 seconds into the second period. The goal gave him four on the season and equalized the score. Tampa dominated possession and shot volume in the second half, outshooting the visitors 8-0 for a total match advantage of 11-5.

Tassilo Koerner broke the tie in the 76th minute with an unassisted strike following a corner kick. Polidori received a red card in the final minute, but the Tampa backline held the lead until the final whistle. Hare recorded the victory, while Mason Clark, William Waters, and Taka Onoguchi contributed to the offensive pressure.

The Spartans finish their regular season schedule on Wednesday, October 28. The team travels to Boca Raton to face Lynn University at 5:00 p.m.