Spartans Fall in Inaugural Game to No. 4 Rollins

Box score

Tampa, Fla. - The University of Tampa women's lacrosse team went up against one of the top Division II programs in the country Sunday afternoon and fell to fourth-ranked Rollins College, 21-7, in their inaugural game at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex. With the win, the Tars improve to 1-0, while the Spartans drop to 0-1.

The Spartans struck first scoring on their first offensive possession in team history. Eileen Barrett picked up a ground ball, off a Tars turnover, drove the length of the field and found Mallory Mays for the goal to give Tampa an early 1-0 lead. After a Tars goal, Amanda Voges made a dodge towards the cage and shot the ball into the back of the cage to give the Spartans a 2-1 advantage. Rollins scored three straight goals, before Morgan Cheripko converted a free position attempt to cut the deficit to 4-3 with 22:01 remaining in the first half. Rollins offense found its rhythm scoring eight unanswered goals over the course of the next 20 minutes to take a 12-3 lead with 2:17 remaining. Barrett and Mays would connect once again before the end of the half to cut the deficit to 13-4 at the break.

Rollins scored six straight goals to start the second half and extend their lead to 19-4. Then Jackie Martin found Voges for back-to-back goals to cut the deficit to 19-6. After the two teams traded goals, Taylor Thomas scored an unassisted goal for the 21-7 final.

Voges led the Spartans with three goals, while Mays, Barrett, and Martin each tallied two points. Goalie Arianna Diaz made 11 saves, including seven in the first half, in the loss. Nikki DeScenza, Barrett, and Kerry Glenday tied for the team lead with three draw controls apiece.

The Spartans will travel to North Carolina for a two-game road trip starting February 21. They will travel to Charlotte, N.C. to face Queens University at 6 p.m. on February 21 and then travel to Belmont N.C. to take on Belmont Abbey at 2 p.m. on February 23.

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