Spartans Fly Over Lewis to Advance to Semifinals

TAMPA, Fla. – No.1 seed Tampa flies over Lewis in dominant win.

The Spartans would waste no time to begin the game, with Owen Miller finding Jackson Bashaw in front of the net to open the scoring. With just over eight minutes left in the quarter, Canyon Birch netted his first of the game off a pass from Zack Friend to extend the Tampa lead. Goalkeeper Luca Mercaldo stood tall in net for the Spartans, making a few saves to keep the Flyers off the board. With just under five minutes to play, Lewis got one back to cut the Tampa lead to one. Bashaw went on to net back-to-back goals, with assists from Andrew Milani, to finish off his hat trick late in the quarter. Behind a buzzer-beater from face-off specialist Alex Poma, the Spartans headed into the second quarter with a four-goal lead.

The second quarter began with Bashaw netting his fourth goal of the game less than one minute in. Birch went on to net his second of the game off a pass from Charlie Bolesh extending the Tampa lead to six, causing Lewis to call a timeout. The Flyers got one back with just over nine minutes left before the half. Miller would answer soon after, putting Tampa back in the lead by six. Milani found the back of the net a minute later, cushioning the Spartans' lead. Mercaldo made a late save and Bashaw recorded a last-second goal to send Tampa into the break with a eight-goal lead.

The second half began with an intensity from both teams wanting to set the tone for the half. Ryan Kemp would open the scoring for the half, after capitalizing off a pass from Mitchell Pfeiffer to build the Tampa lead to nine. Bolesh found Miller in front of the net for his second of the game, before Wyatt Antkiewicz netted one of his own right after extending Tampa's lead. Birch finished off his 12^th hat trick of the season, after netting a goal with the help of Jackson Day. The Spartans' offense continued to roll behind Grant Green's back-to-back goals. Tampa headed into the final 15 minutes with a 16-goal lead.

The final 15 minutes began with Lewis getting one back, cutting the Tampa lead to 15. Pfeiffer netted his second of the game off a pass from Ronan Sanchez, to keep the Spartans rolling. Kemp found the back of the net once again, capitalizing off a pass from Aaron Cho. Tampa's offense would prove too much for Lewis to handle, as the Spartans earned the win.

Stat of the Game – This is the least amount of goals allowed in program history for Tampa in an NCAA Tournament.

TAMPA POST-GAME NOTES 

• The Spartans have won 16 straight.
• Luca Mercaldo stood tall in net for Tampa, recording 7 saves.
• Birch netted his 12^th hat trick of the season.
• Bashaw netted his fifth hat trick of the season.
• The Tampa defense held Lewis scoreless in the third quarter.
• This is the least amount of goals allowed in program history for Tampa in an NCCA Tournament.
• Charlie Villa appeared in net for Tampa, recording one save.
• This is the largest margin of victory for the program in postseason history.

UP NEXT - Tampa will host Lenior-Rhyne for the semifinals on Sunday, May 19^th at 1:00 p.m.