Spartans Defense Shines in Battle at Home

TAMPA, Fla. – No.4 Tampa defeats No.16 Colorado Mesa in a back-and-forth battle at home.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The game began with the Spartans winning the initial faceoff and spending a couple of minutes in the offensive zone. Tampa would record a few shots before Colorado Mesa took the ball down the field and scored five straight goals. Canyon Birch would open the scoring for Tampa, netting his 26^th goal of the season. Birch would go on to net three more, assisted by Andrew Milani and Nick Papa, to cut the Maverick's lead to one heading into the second quarter.

The second 15 minutes would begin with the Mavericks netting another goal, building a 6-4 lead. Milani wasted no time responding, netting a goal off an assist from Devon Rasmus. Charlie Bolesh would net the equalizer less than one minute later. Papa netted a goal of his own to give Tampa their first lead of the matchup with over nine minutes left before the half. The teams would head into halftime knotted up at 7.

Colorado Mesa opened the scoring in the second half, regaining a one-goal lead. Birch netted his fifth of the game to tie it at eight. Milani scored his second of the game off a pass from Mitchell Pfeiffer to put Tampa in the lead once again. The Mavericks would net back-to-back goals to re-claim the one-goal lead with just over five minutes left in the quarter. Pfeiffer recorded another assist on Ronan Sarnchez's goal before Matthew Beddow netted a rocket to put Tampa back in the lead heading into the final 15 minutes.

The final 15 minutes began with a sense of urgency from both teams. Bolesh and Sanchez each netted goals within 18 seconds of each other to build Tampa's lead to three goals. Owen Miller, Devon Rasmus, and Birch netted a goal to put Tampa in the lead by five with just over five minutes left to play. Tampa's defense would continue to shut down Colorado Mesa's offense and pave the way to their fifth straight win.

Stat of the Game – Canyon Birch netted a game-leading six goals for the second time this season.

TAMPA POST-GAME NOTES 

• The Spartans have won five straight.
• Luca Mercaldo recorded 3 saves.
• Birch recorded his 7^th hat trick of the season, his fifth straight.
• Five different Spartans netted two or more goals: Birch, Sanchez, Bolesh, Papa, and Milani.
• Birch netted all four Tampa goals in the first quarter.

UP NEXT - Tampa finishes off their home stand on Saturday against conference foe Rollins at 8:00 p.m.