Hemrick Nets Five but Spartans Fall in Overtime

WINTER PARK, Fla. - Kyle Hemrick scored five goals but it wasn't enough as the University of Tampa men's lacrosse fell to Catawba, 10-9 in overtime, Sunday afternoon at Baker Family Stadium. With the win Catawba improves to 9-6, while the Spartans fall to 10-5 while the Indians capture the 2013 Deep South Conference tournament crown.

Tampa came out firing outshooting the Indians 16-4 in the first quarter. Trevor Calleja got the Spartans started winning the opening faceoff of the game and finding Hemrick for a goal, to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead eight seconds into the game. Later in the period the Spartans took advantage of a Catawba penalty as Greg Griffo found Hemrick for the man-up goal to give Tampa a 2-0 advantage. On the Spartans next possession Griffo and Hemrick hooked up again for a goal to give the Spartans a 3-0 after the opening period.

Catawba scored a goal to start the second quarter to cut the lead to 3-1. Tampa responded less than a minute as Griffo's shot found the back of the cage to give Tampa a 4-1 advantage. Catawba scored three straight goals to tie the game 4-4 with 8:27 left in the first half. The Spartans as Cody Prizer forced a Catawba turnover and found Joey McMahan in transition for a goal to give Tampa a 5-4 lead. The Indians even the score as Tom Cullop found John Scheich with 3:01 remaining. Calleja won the ensuing faceoff and found Hemrick who bounced a shot into the cage to give Tampa a 6-5 lead at halftime.

Minutes into the third quarter, Brian Patton made a dodge towards the middle of the field a put a shot into the top right corner of the cage to extend the Spartans lead to 7-5. After a Catawba goal, McMahan found Hemrick in the middle of the field for a man-up goal with 4:50 left in the third quarter. It was Hemrick fifth goal of the game, which tied the Spartans record of most goals in a game set by Hemrick at Catawba last season.

Three minutes into the fourth quarter Jon Williams netted a goal to tie the game 8-8. Just under the seven minute mark, Jospeh Fiorucci made a spectacular stick save to keep the game tied. Minutes later Cullop scored a goal to give the Indians a 9-8 lead. The Spartans took advantage of an Indians penalty as Griffo found Joel McGowan for the equalizer with 3:39 left in the fourth quarter. The Spartans had a opportunity to win in regulation but Griffo's shot was blocked by an Indians defender sending the game into overtime.

The two teams traded possession in the first overtime, Forucci made two saves to keep the game tied. Then with 22 seconds remaining in overtime Cullop netted the game-wining goal to give Catawba its third straight DSC tournament title.

Hemrick led the Spartans with five goals, while Griffo netted one and dished out two others. Calleja went 11-18 on faceoffs and tallied two assists.

Larry Gress finished the game with three caused turnovers and two ground balls. Fiorucci made 14 saves in the game.

The Spartans will return to action next weekend when they travel to Colorado for the final two games of their regular season. They will face Adams State on Thursday, April 18, at 5 p.m. and then play Colorado Mesa on Saturday, April 20, at 3 p.m.

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