Tampa Drops Deep South Conference Semifinal Game

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa lacrosse team lost to Florida Southern College in the Deep South Conference semifinals, 11-7. Tampa finishes the season 11-5, as Florida Southern will face Catawba College Sunday at Mars Hill in the conference finals.

The highly anticipated rematch started out with FSC dominating the first quarter. Shane Tompkins has two goals in the first helped give the Mocs a 4-0 lead after one. Mat Thompson and Wes Venturino also added one each.

Dane Sorensen scored at the 5:22 in the second period to put Florida Southern up 5-0.

The Spartans didn't get on the board until less than two minutes remaining in the half when A.J. DeSimone scored his 23rd goal of the season. Greg Griffo recorded his 16th assist.

Tampa came out in the second half looking like a new team, when Kyle Hemrick scored less than three minutes into the third.

Kevin Castle scored a man-up goal at the 7:46 mark to bring UT within two. Griffo registered another assist on the play.

However, FSC answered as Sorensen scored his second of the game, putting them back up by three.

Griffo and DeSimone each scored again, making it 6-5 in the third quarter.

Sorensen retaliated again notching his third of the game, giving the Moccasins a two goal edge after three full periods.

The fourth was all Florida Southern, as it scored four straight to open the quarter. Sorensen added his fourth goal of the game, with Thompson and Tompkins picking up their second each.

Before the final horn sounded, Jonathan Franzese and Hemrick both scored to make it 11-7, but the Spartans would eventually run out of time.

In its first year, the University of Tampa won 11 games, including going 7-1 in the Deep South Conference. Despite the loss, the future for Tampa lacrosse looks to be bright.

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