Spartans Defend Home Field Against Crusaders

TAMPA, Fla. – The fifth-ranked University of Tampa Spartans returned to Naimoli Stadium as they faced North Greenville University in a Saturday night showdown. The Spartans used a strong second-half performance to improve to 4-0 on the season.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: No. 5 Tampa Spartans 16, North Greenville Crusaders 6

Records: Tampa (4-0), North Greenville (1-4)

Location: Tampa, Fla. | Naimoli Stadium

All-time Series: With the victory, Tampa leads the all-time series 3-0.

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How It Happened:

First Quarter|| NGU was the first team on the board as they netted a goal with 11:38 remaining in the opening frame. UT was able to respond and tie the game as Jake Mosher Mcgraw would score a goal with eight minutes remaining. The Crusaders would score the next two goals of the quarter to end with a lead. This would be the first time all year the Spartans ended a quarter while trailing.  || 3-1 North Greenville

Second Quarter || The Spartans were able to erase the deficit early in the second quarter as Jack Wood and Bryan Wright would each score a goal less than two minutes into the quarter. With 3:44 left in the quarter, Tampa would grab its first lead of the game behind a goal from Luke McAnaney. The Spartan defense would only allow two shots on goal in the quarter, as Alexander Starr would record a save on each of those attempts.  || 4-3 Tampa

Third Quarter || Following the halftime break, the UT offense made adjustments that lead to an offensive explosion. The Spartans opened up the half on a 9-0 scoring run spanning the first 12 minutes of the second half. NGU was able to break the run by scoring two goals before UT ended the quarter with a goal with 11 seconds left.  || 14-5 Tampa

Fourth Quarter || The final quarter of the game was played at a slower pace as only three total goals were scored. Wood and Mosher McGraw would score the two goals for Tampa. Between the pipes, Blake Ulmer was able to collect three saves to seal the victory || 16-6

Inside the Stats:

• Jack Wood and Jake Mosher McGraw would each lead the way with four goals in the win.
• Bryan Wright finished with four points as he had a game-high three assists and one goal.
• In the faceoff circle, Ross Dickerson had a perfect game as the senior went 19-19 and picked up a season-high 16 groundballs.
• Devon Hess also saw time in the faceoff circle as he would also have a perfect game, going 7-7.
• As a team, the Spartans won 26 of 26 faceoffs taken.
• Matthew Beddow was a force on defense as he caused four turnovers and scooped up three groundballs.

Up Next: Tampa will be back in action on Wednesday, March 4^th as they travel to Baltimore, Maryland for a neutral site game. There will be a top-five matchup at the campus of Johns Hopkins University as the Spartans will take on third-ranked Adelphi University. The game is slated for a noon start.

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