Spartans Drop Season-Opener to #6 Tars

TAMPA, Fla. – Facing the No. 6 team in Division II, the University of Tampa women's lacrosse team lost its season-opener to Rollins College on Sunday afternoon at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex.

The Spartans begin the year 0-1 while the visiting Tars open 2016 1-0 in its Sunshine State Conference bout.

UT held Rollins to its lowest point differential in the all-time series as the top-10 program was limited to 13 goals while the Spartans scored six. 

Junior Amanda Voges picked up a hat trick, scoring a trio of goals in her first contest of the year.  Freshmen Rachel Crawford and Paige Johnson each netted a goal in their first collegiate game while sophomore Amanda Rom scored the remaining goal for Tampa.

The Tars were in the driver's seat for the opening half, scoring seven goals to the Spartan's one.  Senior Tyler Thomas was a force on the field, netting three goals in the opening period. 

Voges delivered a strong pass from junior Emilie Barbosa to the back of the net at the 25:50 minute mark as the lone Tampa goal of the half.

UT exploding for five goals in the second stanza, rebounding to close the gap as the offense took shape for head coach Kelly Gallagher's squad.

Freshman Crawford ignited the attack with a goal off of a strong feed from midfielder Shannon Sweeney, scoring her first collegiate goal.  Fellow freshman Johnson found the back of the net with 10:25 minutes left in the game behind another assist from Sweeney.

Voges converted a pair of free-position attempts in the final five minutes of play as the Spartans were unable to match the torrid Tars offense.

Rollins goalie Malorie Olin (1-0) picked up the win, notching 14 saves against UT.

Senior Caili Guilday (0-1) started in goal for the Spartans, picking up 10 saves and six groundballs despite the outcome.  Defender Amanda Parker posted three groundballs and a pair of caused turnovers to lead the UT backline.

Tampa will continue play with an exhibition contest against the Welsh National Team on Febuary 17 at 6 p.m. at the Naimoli Complex.

Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/tampaspartans), Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans), YouTube (youtube.com/utathletics) and Instagram (tampaspartans). UT also offers a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com.