Tampa Falls in First Round of NCAA Tournament at Home

TAMPA, Fla. – The No.11 ranked University of Tampa Spartans men's lacrosse team falls in first round of NCAA Tournament.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: No. 5 Lenoir-Rhyne 10, No. 11 Tampa 9

Records: Tampa Spartans (13-4), Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (15-3)

Location: Naimoli Family Athletic Complex || Tampa, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

FIRST QUARTER

The first round of the NCAA postseason began with the Spartans gaining early possession and recording a couple shots on goal. The Bears opened the scoring with just over twelve and a half minutes left in the opening quarter. Daniel Fitzpatrick came off the bench and netted a goal just seconds later to tie the matchup. The Bears scored two more to gain a two goal lead with about eight minutes left. After a faceoff win, Alex Poma ran the ball down the field to net a goal of his own, cutting the Bears' lead to two goals. The two goal deficit would remain, as the two teams headed into the second quarter.

12:11 – Daniel Fitzpatrick, unassisted

06:27 – Alex Poma, unassisted

Score: 4-2 Lenoir-Rhyne

SECOND QUARTER

The second fifteen minutes would begin with a sense of urgency from the Spartans. This urgency turned into an early goal from senior Owen Miller, getting Tampa within one of the Lenoir-Rhyne lead. Luke McAnaney netted a behind-the-back goal off a pass from Harry Kilkowski to tie the matchup at four. About a minute later, Charlie Bolesh found the back of the net to put the Spartans in the lead for the first time in the matchup. The Tampa offense continued to score, with two more quick goals, building their lead to three goals. After a stellar performance in the quarter, the Spartans went into the half with the lead.

14:06 – Owen Miller, unassisted

09:49 – Luke McAnaney, assisted by Harry Kilkowski

08:26 – Charlie Bolesh, unassisted

07:10 – Jackson Bashaw, assisted by Luke McAnaney

06:09 – Grant Green, unassisted

Score: 7-4 Tampa

THIRD QUARTER

The second half would open with the Bears netting an early goal, cutting the Spartans' lead to two goals. The Bears struck again to tie the highly contested matchup at nine goals a-piece. Miller netted his second of the matchup to re-gain the lead with just over seven minutes left in the quarter. The defense for both teams played very well in the quarter, keeping it a one goal matchup headed into the final 15 minutes.

07:10 – Owen Miller, unassisted

Score: 8-7 Tampa

FOURTH QUARTER

The final 15 minutes began similarly to the previous two, with both teams coming out strong. Miller finished off a hattrick early in the quarter as he extended the Tampa lead to two goals once again. The Bears would not go down easy though, as they made it a one score matchup with just over ten minutes left to play. Lenoir-Rhyne tied the high stakes matchup at nine with around eight minutes left. The Bears took a one goal lead with just under six minutes left. The late push from the Bears proved too much for Tampa. 

12:52 – Owen Miller, unassisted

Final: 10-9 Lenoir-Rhyne

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Owen Miller recorded a hat-trick
• 8 different Spartans got on the scoresheet
• Blake Ulmer recorded 10 saves

On behalf of Tampa Men's Lacrosse, thank you for all of the support this season. Go Spartans!