No.12 Spartans Punch Their Ticket to SSC Finals with Win Over No.24 Saint Leo

TAMPA, FL. – The No.12 ranked University of Tampa Spartans women's lacrosse team wins the SSC Semifinal against No.24 Saint Leo in dominate fashion

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: University of Tampa Spartans 19, Saint Leo Lions, 6

Records: #12 Tampa (11-6, 7-1 SSC), #24 Saint Leo (7-11, 4-4 SSC)

Location: Naimoli Family Athletic Complex | Tampa, FL

HOW IT HAPPENED:

First Quarter
The first quarter opened up with the Lions opening the scoring early. The Spartans responded less than a minute later, with Olivia Mott finding Madison Birch in front of the net. With just under five minutes left to play in the first, the Spartans found themselves behind by two goals. Sarah Hinkle's late goal put the Spartans behind by one goal headed into the second. The Spartans scored as follows:

13:26– Madison Birch, assisted by Olivia Mott

00:03 – Sarah Hinkle, unassisted

Score: 3-2 Saint Leo

Second Quarter
The Second quarter began with both teams playing well on defense. Hinkle opened the scoring the quarter, netting her second of the game. Just under a minute later, Birch netted her second of the matchup. After this, the Spartans offense came to life, scoring two more goals to build a 6-3 lead. The Lions called a timeout to try and stop the Spartans' momentum. Hinkle finished off her hat trick with just under five minutes left before the half. With three ground-balls recorded before the half, Dani Waters reached 100 for her career, capping off a great quarter for Tampa. The Spartans were dominate and went into halftime with a seven-goal lead.The Spartans scored as follows:

12:36 – Sarah Hinkle, unassisted

11:35 – Madison Birch, unassisted

10:59 – Georgia Glowaki, unassisted

9:47 – Olivia Mott, unassisted

04:40 – Sarah Hinkle, unassisted

02:43 – Lizzie Pierpont, assisted by Olivia Mott

02:32 – Lizzie Pierpont, assisted by Cece Colombo

01:57 — Georgia Glowaki, unassisted

Score: 10-3 Tampa

Third Quarter
The Spartans carried over their momentum from the end of the second to begin the half. Birch netted her third of the game to finish off her hat trick and build the Spartans' lead to eight goals. Christina Romano netted her first of the game with under eleven minutes left in the third, to cushion the Spartan lead. The Lions started to find the back of the net later in the quarter, but it would prove to be too late for a full comeback before the fourth quarter began. The Spartans scored as follows:

13:28 – Madison Birch, unassisted

10:58 – Christina Romano, unassisted

09:09 – Cece Colombo, assisted by Julia Kolderman

06:14 – Madison Birch, unassisted

04:14 – Emma McLoughlin, unassisted

Score: 15-4 Tampa

Fourth Quarter
The fourth quarter began with the Lions finding the back of the net for the fifth time of the game. The Spartans did not let that go unanswered though, with Birch netting her fifth of the contest. The Spartans continued to dominate and would punch their ticket to host the SSC Finals on Sunday. The Spartans scored as follows:

10:31 –Madison Birch, assisted by Lizzie Pierpont

08:46 – Abby Hope, assisted by Alyssa Romano

03:30 – Mekelsey Montgomery, assisted by Christina Romano

00:07 – Sarah Hinkle, unassisted

Final: 19-6 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

Two Spartans would record hat tricks, Birch (5) and Hinkle (4)

Waters and Alyssa Romano recorded 4 ground-balls

Colombo recorded 6 draw controls

BEYOND THE BOX:

Tampa would outshoot Saint Leo 42-13

Waters reached over 100 career ground-balls

UP NEXT: The Spartans host the SSC Finals on Sunday against the winner of Florida Southern or Rollins, time TBA.