The University of Tampa (UT) women’s soccer team can boast the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Player and Freshman of the Year, and a pair of North Hillsborough County high schools can share the pride.
Sophomore midfielder and Gaither graduate Lauren Moore was named the SSC Player of the Year Nov. 1, the same day forward and Steinbrenner graduate Cici Gonzalez picked up Freshman of the Year honors. The duo is among six UT (13-3-4) players on the Division II soccer program’s all-star list.
Moore has posted a team-high 17 goals and 39 points this season, while Gonzalez has 12 goals, eight assists and 32 points. The offensive combo has accounted for 50 percent of the No. 23 ranked Spartans’ tallies this year.
Moore, who is the second player in program history to earn the honor, is averaging an SSC-best 1.95 points and 0.85 goals per game this game. She set the school record by scoring five goals in a game during a 13-0 win against Florida Memorial in September.
Gonzalez is second in the SSC with 1.60 points and 0.60 goals per game. She is the fourth player in program history to receive the honor.
Gonzalez’s award was the second for her last week.
She was also named the SSC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time after factoring in all four of UT’s goals in a 4-0 win against Saint Leo Oct. 24. Gonzalez scored the opening tally and assisted on the other three scores.
The Spartans’ duo helped the program win its third straight SSC conference tournament title Nov. 4 by defeating Rollins College 2-1 in penalty kicks.
Another local high school product made the list — Eckerd College sophomore Morgan Crescent.
The goalkeeper graduated from Land O’ Lakes High and was given second-team honors as an at-large selection. Crescent has a 10-7-3 record with 129 saves and seven shutouts this season.
The conference’s soccer coaches and sports information directors voted for the all-stars.
—Kyle LoJacono
