TAMPA, Fla. --- The University of Tampa defeated Tusculum University 8-0 in non-conference women's soccer action Friday night at Pepin Stadium.
The Spartans (1-1-1) scored three goals in the first 17 minutes, then added three goals during a five-minute surge midway through the second half. Katherine Hostage finished with a goal and two assists for Tampa, with Madison McElhone adding a pair of goals. The Spartans outshot the Pioneers (0-3-0) by a 26-7 margin in the contest.
Tampa had the first scoring chance of the game just 2 1/2 minutes into the opening half, as a pass to Stephanie deLaforcad at 15 yards was chipped to Tusculum keeper Grayson Patterson. The Pioneers' first sot was off the foot of Brianna Garcia from distance in the fifth minute, but was saved by Tampa goalie Lovisa Camel.
The Spartans went up 1-0 at 9:31 as a loose ball at midfield wound up at top of the box, where it was played off the head of Quinn Knapp and over Patterson. Just under two minutes later, Hostage dribbled along the goal line and fed a pass in front for deLaforcad, who gave Tampa a 2-0 lead at 11:18. Tampa went up 3-0 at 16:50 as a pass to the left side by Brooke Steigerwalt was collected in full stride by Elena Barr, and she maneuvered around Patterson and deposited the third goal for the Spartans.
The Pioneers did not wilt under the early onslaught by the Spartans, as Yvette Raaijen had a shot deflected wide in the 18th minute and Camel made a stop on Bailey Bylotas in the 19th minute. Tusculum earned a pair of corner kicks in the 25th minute, but the Tampa defense turned aside both chances without a shot attempt.
Meanwhile, the Pioneer defense did not allow a shot attempt to the Spartans over a 21-minute span from Barr's goal until a soft shot from Jalyssa Richardson was scooped by keeper Emma Harriman in the 38th minute. With five minutes until half, the Spartans just missed an opportunity as Jackie Morris missed high to the far corner after breaking in from the left side.
In the second half, Tampa extended its lead to 4-0 at 57:08 as another cross from the goal line from Hostage was tapped home by McElhone. Just under four minutes later, Hostage pushed the Spartans up 5-0 as she collected a throw-in, turned and fired a shot from close range past Harriman. McElhone scored her second in a five-minute span at 62:18 as she connected on a header from in close for a 6-0 Tampa lead.
Tusculum's best scoring chance in the match came with 18:16 left, when Kaitlyn Watson curled a free kick from 20 yards past the wall only to see Camel punch the ball over the crossbar. Harriman made her best save of the evening with 10 minutes left, as she saved Sydni Dennis on a blast from 15 yards.
Tampa poured on the scoring late, as Olivia Dubuc tallied with 3:36 left and Sophie Shrader added the final goal off a Dennis assist with just 34 ticks on the clock.
Harriman made four saves in relief of Patterson, who had one save over the first 17 minutes for the Pioneers. Camel made five saves to finish with the clean sheet for the Spartans. Tampa had an 8-5 edge in corner kicks, while both teams were whistled for seven fouls.
The Pioneers will conclude their two-game trip to Florida when they visit Eckerd for a 10 a.m. match on Sunday.
