Tampa Outsmarts MIT in Victory

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa lacrosse team defeated the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 9-5 in a non-conference matchup. Tampa goes to 10-3 on the season, while MIT drops to 2-2.

James McAuliffe got the scoring going to Tampa 3:32 into the first period out a pass by Frank Lorono. It was the first of two for McAuliffe.

Freshman M.J. Lorenzo extended the Spartan lead to two goals when he netted an unassisted goal at the 8:28 mark.

MIT got on the board late in the first with a goal by Bill Kelleher. It was Kelleher's fifth goal of the season.

The second period was back and forth, as seven goals were scored between the two teams.

After the Engineers tied it up at two, Michael Asher put that Spartans back on top with his first of the season.

The one goal lead for UT would last nearly five minutes before Gabe Blanchet of MIT tied it back up.

Tampa would go on to score three of the next four goals in the period to take a 6-4 lead at half time. Lorenzo scored his second of the game, while Kevin Castle and Ryan Becker each scored as well.

Becker's goal would be the sixth for the Spartans and turned out to be the game winner as the Engineers would only score one more the rest of the game.

James McAuliffe scored his second goal of the game midway through the third period.

In the fourth, Lorono and Jonathan Franzese would tack on a goal each to put Tampa up by four. Franzese had the assists on Lorono's goal, while Greg Griffo recorded the assist on the second goal.

Griffo leads the team in points with 26 (11 goals, 15 assists). His 15 assists are tops on the team as well.

Between Tampa's two faceoff specialists, Greg Khanzadian and Trevor Calleja, the Spartans won 14-17 draws.

Tampa goes back on the road to take on Catawba College next Sunday at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available through TampaSpartans.com.

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