Tampa Defeats Fellow First Year Program Florida Tech

MELBOURNE, Fla. - The University of Tampa lacrosse team defeats first year program Florida Tech 9-2. Tampa improves to 4-1 on the season and 2-0 in Deep South Conference play. Florida Tech drops to 0-5 and 0-4 in conference.

Greg Griffo started the Spartans offensive attack less than two minutes into the game with an unassisted goal. It was Griffo's fifth goal of the season.

Despite taking 12 shots in the first quarter, Tampa was only able to net one. Florida tech's goalkeeper, Mason Cook, made four saves as well.

Three minutes into the second period, freshman M.J. Lorenzo scored to make it 2-0. Kevin Castle recorded his first of two assists on the play.

At the 9:22 mark in the second, Adam Dickson scored his first of the season to extend the lead to three goals. It was the first time this season a long pole scored for the Spartans. Dickson's goal would also prove to be the game winner.

Less than a minute later, A.J. DeSimone scored a man-up goal which made it 4-0 Spartans. DeSimone lead the team coming into tonight's game with nine goals and 11 points.

With 5:36 to go in the first half, FIT got on the board with a goal by Danny Channell, assisted by Ryan Bailey. It was Channell's third of the season and Bailey's third assist.

Tampa dominated all offensive categories in the first half with 36 shots, 14 on goal and 20 groundballs.

It didn't take long for Tampa to pick up where it left off in the first half as Jonathan Franzese scored 52 seconds into the third period. Griffo had the assist on the goal.

Down 5-1, Bailey scored to cut the Panther deficit to three. It was Bailey's third goal of the second and his second point of the game.

With 2:03 remaining in the third period, Lorenzo struck again with his second of the game. Castle recorded his second assist of the game as well on the play.

Under a minute left in the third period, Ryan Becker netted the Spartans seventh goal of the game. It was Becker's first goal and point of the season.

In the fourth period, DeSimone scored his eleventh goal of the season to extend the UT lead to six.

Playing in just his second game of the year, James Christensen scored his first goal of the season and the ninth of the game for Tampa. Devin Morris had the assist, which was his first point of the year as well.

When the final horn sounded, the Spartans had recorded a season high of 59 shots. 24 of those 59 were on goal, with nine of them going in for goals.

Trevor Calleja dominated the faceoff X, winning 10 of the 14 draws. The freshman also recorded a game high of seven groundballs.

Griffo led the game in shots with 12, while Lorenzo had a game high of three points (two goals, one assist).

Tampa heads to South Carolina to face Limestone College on Sunday at noon. Live stats will be available through TampaSpartans.com.

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