Spartans Defeat Panthers in SSC Season Rematch

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa Spartans men's lacrosse team defeated the Florida Tech Panthers in a Sunshine State Conference season rematch. Tampa improves to a perfect 7-0 on the year with two games to go.  

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: Tampa 14, Florida Tech 9

Records: Tampa (7-0, 5-0 SSC), Florida Tech (2-4, 1-3 SSC)

Location: Naimoli Family Athletics Complex | Tampa, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

FIRST QUARTER

The Panthers swiped first, scoring the games first two goals at the 12:28 and 11:37 mark. Tampa then rattled off four goals of their own, with Jack Wood, assisted by Daniel Fitzpatrick, getting the scoring punch started at 10:26. Wood later turned helper, assisting on a finish by Colin White to tie the game. The Spartans first lead came from a second Wood goal, assisted by Ben French, with just under nine minutes left in the first frame. Doing his best Wood impression, French scored next off the feed from Luke McAnaney forty seconds later, increasing Tampa's lead 4-2.

Florida Tech and the Spartans each traded unassisted goals to close the quarter, with Tampa's coming from McAnaney's stick. Score: 5-3 Tampa

SECOND QUARTER

Two Panther goals opened the second quarter, tying the game at five apiece. Owen Miller thought differently and found the back of the net twice with assists from McAnaney and Wood, giving Tampa another two-goal lead, 7-5. Florida Tech tacked on another in the quarter. Score: 7-6 Tampa

THIRD QUARTER

Florida Tech tied things up once again with a goal at 9:53. They would only score one more in the quarter, as the Spartans added four in the final six minutes to pull away. French was again the catalyst, scoring off the feed from McAnaney. Faceoff man Ross Dickerson scored seven seconds later, 9-7 Tampa. A panther goal at 5:11 made it a one goal game before goals by French, assisted by Owen Matukas, and Richie Hollie put Tampa back up by three, 11-8 to end the third. Score: 11-8 Tampa

FOURTH QUARTER

The Spartans defense continued to shine in the second half, holding the Panthers to just one goal in the fourth. Tampa poured on three more goals in the final frame:

9:20 – McAnaney, unassisted.

8:27 – White, assisted by French.

6:47 – Shane Hanlon, unassisted.

INSIDE THE STATS:

• UT had five players score two or more goals: Ben French (3), Luke McAnaney (2), Owen Miller (2), Colin White (2), and Jack Wood (2).
• French and McAnaney each had five points in the game (3G, 2A and 2G, 3A, respectively).
• Ross Dickerson was 16-25 on faceoffs.
• Blake Ulmer earned his seventh win on the year (7-0) and had 13 saves.

BEYOND THE BOX:

• Jack Wood's four-point night (2G, 2A) gives him the team lead for points this season. He has scored 17 goals, assisted on 20, and has 37 points this season.
• Ben French's hattrick performance gives him 25 goals scored this season, most on the team.

UP NEXT: Tampa stays home for an under-the-lights matchup with Sunshine State Conference opponent Saint Leo. The game is Wednesday and starts at 8:00 p.m.

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