No.1 Tampa Puts on Show in Opening Day Win

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The No.1 ranked University of Tampa Spartans men's lacrosse team defeat the No.15 Florida Tech Panthers in season opener.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: No. 1 Tampa 13, No. 15 Florida Tech 7

Records: Tampa Spartans (1-0), Florida Tech Panthers (0-1)

Location: Panther Field || Melbourne, FL

HOW IT HAPPENED:

FIRST QUARTER

The first quarter would open with Alex Poma winning the faceoff for the Spartans. Harry Kilkowski netted the first goal of the season for Tampa, off a pass from teammate Charlie Ruoss. The Panthers answered the Spartan goal just two minutes later to tie the matchup. Luke McAnaney got the Spartans back in the lead less than one minute later. A.J. Pascarella netted a late goal to put Tampa in the lead by two goals headed into the second quarter.

12:04 – Harry Kilkowski assisted by Charlie Ruoss

09:58 – Luke McAnaney, unassisted

03:14 – A.J. Pascarella, unassisted

Score: 3-1 Tampa

SECOND QUARTER

The second quarter would begin similarly to the first, with both teams playing well defensively. Daniel Fitzpatrick found McAnaney in front of the net to build the Spartan lead to three goals. The Panthers found the back of the net with nine minutes left in the quarter to cut into the Spartans' lead. Fitzpatrick answered with a strike of his own to get the Spartan lead back where it was. Florida Tech netted two unanswered goals, getting within one of the Tampa lead. Freshman Jackson Bashaw found veteran defenseman Matthew Beddow late in the quarter to build the goal difference to two. With just under one minute left, the Panthers were forced to call a timeout. Jackson Day netted a last second goal to put the Spartans up by three at the half.

13:14 – Luke McAnaney, assisted by Daniel Fitzpatrick

08:09 – Daniel Fitzpatrick, unassisted

03:51 – Matthew Beddow, assisted by Jackson Bashaw

00:01 – Jackson Day, unassisted

Score: 7-4 Tampa

THIRD QUARTER

The second half would begin with the Spartans on the penalty kill, after taking an early penalty. Tampa would keep the Panthers off the board with the extra man, but the Panthers got through the defense with ten minutes left in the quarter. Tampa would answer less than one minute later behind Charlie Bolesh's first goal of the game. With five minutes left, Florida Tech found the back of the net twice and got within one goal of the Tampa lead. Behind a late goal from Kilkowski, the Spartans would hold onto their lead with a two goal cushion headed into the final fifteen 15 minutes.

09:16 – Charlie Bolesh, unassisted

01: 13 – Harry Kilkowski, assisted by Owen Miller 

Score: 9-7 Tampa

FOURTH QUARTER

The Spartans would come into the last quarter swinging, with Canyon Birch netting two early goals assisted by Kilkowski to gain a four goal lead over the Panthers. The Spartan offense came to life in the last quarter, with all the momentum on their side after Owen Miller's two goal effort with six minutes left to play. Overall, the Spartan offense became too much for the Panthers to handle.

14:13 – Canyon Birch, assisted by Harry Kilkowski

13:03 – Canyon Birch, assisted by Harry Kilkowski

07:48 – Owen Miller, assisted by Daniel Fitzpatrick

06:33 – Owen Miller, unassisted

Final: 13-7 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Four different Spartans would net two goals in the contest (McAnaney, Kilkowski, Miller, and Birch)
• Fitzpatrick and Kilkowski each recorded a team high two assists in the matchup
• Tampa ended the game on a 5-0 run

UP NEXT: The Spartans will play their first game of the 2023 season on home turf Saturday the 11^th at 1:00 p.m.