Tampa Back in Win Column After Victory Over Florida Tech

TAMPA, Fla. – The No.8 ranked University of Tampa Spartans men's lacrosse team survives a conference matchup at home.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

Final: No. 8 Tampa 14, Florida Tech 11

Records: Tampa Spartans (9-2, 3-1 SSC), Florida Tech Panthers(5-5, 1-2 SSC)

Location: Naimoli Family Athletic Complex || Tampa, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

FIRST QUARTER

The Spartans would come out hot in the first 15 minutes, scoring back-to-back goals within the opening two minutes. Harry Kilkowski found Daniel Fitzpatrick in front of the net for Tampa's first, while Canyon Birch netted one of his own right after. The Panthers got one back with just under eleven minutes left in the quarter. Kilkowski got Tampa back into a two-goal lead after finding the back of the net for his own goal. After Kilkowski built the Spartan lead to three goals, the Panthers answered right back, proving to not go down easy. The conference foes traded late goals, but the Spartans would come out on top heading into the second quarter.

 13:33 – Daniel Fitzpatrick, assisted by Harry Kilkowski

12:57 – Canyon Birch, unassisted

09:28 – Harry Kilkowski, unassisted

08:19 – Harry Kilkowski, unassisted

03:35 – Luke McAnaney, assisted by Jackson Day

Score: 5-3 Tampa

SECOND QUARTER

The battle between the two conference opponents would continue in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Fitzpatrick finished off his hattrick early in the quarter, after netting back-to-back goals twenty seconds apart, building the Tampa lead to four. The Spartan defense continued to shine in the quarter, getting pivotal stops to keep the momentum on their side. Birch netted his second of the night off of a connection from Jackson Bashaw about halfway through the quarter. Florida Tech cut the Tampa lead to three goals with just over three minutes before the half. Kilkowski struck again off a pass from McAnaney to put the Tampa lead back to four with two minutes left. A last-minute goal by Fitzpatrick sent the Spartans into the half with a five-goal lead.

13:38 – Daniel Fitzpatrick, unassisted

13:17 – Daniel Fitzpatrick, unassisted

08:29 – Canyon Birch, assisted by Jackson Bashaw

02:35 – Harry Kilkowski, assisted by Luke McAnaney

00:53 – Daniel Fitzpatrick, unassisted

Score: 10-5 Tampa

THIRD QUARTER

The second half would open with great defensive play from both teams. The teams remained scoreless for about four minutes before Owen Miller netted his first of the matchup. Just one minute later the Panthers answered, keeping the Tampa lead to five. Florida Tech scored one more with just over seven minutes to go, cutting the Tampa lead to four goals. Birch became the third Spartan to net a hattrick behind his quick two-goal performance late in the quarter. Miller capitalized off a pass from Kilkowski for his second of the quarter, to double up the Panthers 14-7. The Panthers netted a late goal to end the quarter.

11:06 – Owen Miller, unassisted

06:14 – Canyon Birch, unassisted

05:34 – Canyon Birch, unassisted

04:41 – Owen Miller, assisted by Harry Kilkowski

Score: 14-8 Tampa

FOURTH QUARTER

The final 15 minutes began with a sense of urgency from the Panthers, who netted a very early goal to bring some life back to their sideline. Florida Tech found the back of the net once again, cutting into the Tampa lead. With just under three minutes left, the Spartans were holding onto their three-goal lead. The early offensive push and the shutdown defense propelled the Spartans to victory.

Final: 14-11 Tampa

INSIDE THE STATS:

• Three different Spartans netted a hat trick or more, Birch (4), Kilkowski (3), and Fitzpatrick (4).
• 7 different Spartans got on the scoresheet
• Harry Kilkowski recorded a team-leading 5 points
• Blake Ulmer recorded 11 saves 

UP NEXT: The Spartans go back on the road on Saturday to take on conference foe Florida Southern at 7:00 p.m.