Tampa Soars Over Florida Tech to Finish Regular Season Perfect in SSC

MELBOURNE, Fla. – No. 3 Tampa finishes the regular season with a perfect conference record as they defeat Florida Tech. With the win, the Spartans are SSC Regular Season Champions.

The Spartans would waste no time to begin the game, with Nick Papa opening the scoring just two minutes in off a pass from freshman Matthew Vara. Less than one minute later, Mitchell Pfeiffer found the back of the net to build the Tampa lead. Jackson Bashaw netted one soon after off a pass from Papa, continuing the scoring run. With just under eight minutes left in the first quarter, Canyon Birch netted his conference-leading 51^st goal to extend Tampa's lead. Birch went on to net his second of the game before Alex Poma won the next face-off to set up Andrew Milani's first of the game. The Panthers would get on the board with just over twenty seconds left in the quarter, sending the Spartans into the second quarter with a five-goal lead.  

The second quarter began with each team playing well defensively. With just over six minutes left before the break, Birch recorded his 10th hat trick of the season. Seconds later, Poma won the face-off and ran it down the field to net his 10^th goal on the season. Milani recorded his 47^th goal on the season, building the Spartans' lead to eight. Behind a late goal by Owen Miller, Tampa headed into the half with a nine-goal lead.

The second half began with Miller netting his second of the game less than one minute into the quarter. Florida Tech got one back a couple of minutes later before Milani netted back-to-back goals finishing off his hat trick. Ronan Sanchez netted his ninth of the season with just over five and a half minutes left in the third quarter. Pfeiffer found Grant Green in front of the net, extending the Tampa lead to 12. The Panthers netted one with just over two minutes left in the quarter, cutting into the Spartans' lead.

The final 15 minutes began with Florida Tech netting back-to-back goals, cutting the Tampa lead to nine. Sanchez netted his second of the game, keeping the Tampa offense rolling. Zack Friend found the back of the net for the ninth time this season before Tommy Ortega netted one of his own continuing Tampa's dominance. The Spartans continued to find the back of the net, earning their fourteenth win of the season.

Stat of the Game – Tampa is Sunshine State Conference Regular Season Champions.

TAMPA POST-GAME NOTES 

• The Spartans have won 13 straight.
• Luca Mercaldo started in net, recording nine saves.
• Milani recorded his eighth hat trick of the season.
• 15 Spartans contributed on the score sheet tonight.
• The Spartans dominated the face-off circle, winning 24 of 32.
• Charlie Villa appeared in net for Tampa in the 4th quarter.
• Tampa hit 20 goals for the fourth time this season.

UP NEXT - Tampa enters the postseason, receiving a bye week this weekend as the number one seed heading into the SSC Tournament.