Tampa Drops First Conference Game of the Season to Catawba

SALISBURY, N.C. - The University of Tampa lacrosse team drops its first Deep South Conference game of the season to Catawba College 13-9. Tampa goes to 6-1 in conference and 10-4 overall. Catawba goes to 5-2 in conference and 10-2 overall.

The Spartans opened the game with a man-up goal by Kyle Hemrick 40 seconds in, with Kevin castle recording the assist.

Just under four minutes into the first period, goaltender Joseph Fiorucci took the pass from his crease down into Catawba territory and scored. It marked the first time in school history that a goaltender scored for UT.

However, Catawba would score the next six goals to go into half time with a four goal lead, 6-2. Braden Artem had two of the six goals.

Drew Stoltz for CC was called for a one minute slashing penalty with two seconds remaining in the half.

Opening up the third quarter a man-up, A.J. DeSimone capitalized with a goal assisted by M.J. Lorenzo.

Two more goals by the Indians put them up 8-3 early in the third quarter.

At the 12:06 mark, freshman M.J. Lorenzo cut into Catawba's lead. After that Kyle Hemrick would score three straight bringing Tampa to within one goal.

During a man-down situation, Artem scored his third of the game for the Indians making it 9-7.

In the fourth quarter, Hemrick struck again with his fifth of the game and 11th of the season. The five goals marked a program high in a single game.

Off the ensuing face off, Trevor Calleja picked up the ground ball, passed to Jonathan Franzese who would tie up the game at 9-9.

That would be the last of the scoring for Tampa as Catawba scored the last four goals, giving them a 13-9 win.

Tampa remains in first place in the Deep South Conference, holding a head-to-head tie breaker with Mars Hill. Both teams have only one loss in DSC play.

Tampa travels to Winter Park, Fla., on Friday at 7 p.m. to face Rollins College in the final regular season game of the year. Live stats will be available through TampaSpartans.com.

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