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Match Preview: Rowdies at University of Tampa

The Basics
2013 Preseason Tour

Tampa Bay Rowdies at University of Tampa

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Location: Pepin Stadium (401 West Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33606)

Admission: Free of charge and parking will be available at the West Parking garage located across the street from Pepin Stadium.

Roster
The Rowdies will have 15 signed players available for Tuesday’s match, as well as seven trialists.

Scouting the University of Tampa
In 2012, the Spartans reached the NCAA Division II Soccer Championship after posting a 10-1-6 (W-T-L) record in the regular season. They would be knocked out in the first round by the eventual National Champions Lynn University. Head Coach Adrian Bush is in his eighth year at the helm of The University of Tampa after starring for the Spartans as a player from 1990-94.

Tampa goalkeeper David Niepel had a great season last year playing all 17 games. The junior earned five shutouts in the Spartans 10-win season. The back line features sophomore Andrew Clare, who notched two goals last year after playing all 17 matches for the Spartans. Leading goal scorer forward Tyler Blackwood is the main offensive threat for Tampa. The London native netted 11 goals last year, while adding two assists in 17 matches.

Rowdies Notes
The Tampa Bay Rowdies picked up their second victory of the preseason after defeating Eckerd College by a score of 5-0 last Wednesday. Three goals in the first half secured the victory for the Rowdies, as newcomers forward Georgi Hristov and forward Amani Walker along with midfielder Luke Mulholland netted the goals for Tampa Bay. Walker and substitute midfielder Shane Hill scored in the second half to make it 5-0.  

The Rowdies will take on the Spartans without forward Mike Ambersley, who continues to be listed as day-to-day. Defender Draymond Washington will be unavailable for tomorrow’s match, recovering from surgery on his left knee and Frankie Sanfilippo will also be out of the lineup due to the birth of his son late last week in California.

The reigning NASL Champions signed forward Devin Del Do last Friday to a two year contract through the 2014 season, with the second year being a club option. Del Do joined the club earlier this season as a trialist after spending three years with the Minnesota Stars FC, now Minnesota United FC.

The Rowdies have released trialist George Tor from preseason, as the club now has seven trialists on the roster.

Current trialists are:
Goalkeepers
Sanel Boric
Will Dieterich

Defenders
Anton Blackwood
Thurstan Johnson
Kyle Clinton
Jordan Gafa

Midfielders
Jamael Cox

Quotable
Rowdies Head Coach Ricky Hill
“The match against UT is a great chance for the squad to keep the momentum going from last Wednesday’s match against Eckerd. We want to grow on the 5-0 result and keep working on those aspects of our game that we feel need to be fixed. The team has worked very well in the recent weeks with respect to improving our playing style. We hope to have a good showing at tomorrow’s match and gain another win at UT.”

Up Next
The NASL Champions will face the Saint Leo University Lions on Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. The match will be played at West Pasco Youth Soccer Association’s Mitchell Fields, located at 4025 Little Rd, New Port Richey, FL 34655. Admission will be free.

The reigning NASL Soccer Bowl Champions will start the 2013 NASL Spring Season by hosting the Carolina RailHawks in its 2013 home opener on Saturday, April 6 at Al Lang Stadium. For information on 2013 season tickets contact the front office at 813-287-1539 or tickets@rowdiessoccer.com. Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date.