No. 1 Tampa to Start the New Season on the Road
WINTER PARK, Fla. - The defending national champion and No. 1 ranked University of Tampa women's lacrosse team is set to begin its 2025 season on the road against Rollins College.
The Matchup: No. 1 University of Tampa (0-0, 0-0 SSC) vs. Rollins (0-0, 0-0 SSC)
Date/Time: Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Barker Family Stadium. 1000 Holt Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
Series History: Although Tampa has a 7-8 record against Rollins, the Spartans have won the last 4 matchups over the Tars.
About the Spartans: The University of Tampa women's lacrosse team enters the 2025 season as the defending NCAA Division II national champions. Following the first national title in school history, the Spartans' coaching staff, headed by Kelly Gallagher who is about to begin her 12th season at Tampa's helm, was honored as the 2024 IWLCA Coaching Staff of the Year. Tampa begins 2025 as the No. 1 team in the USA Lacrosse Division II Women's Preseason Top 20. Furthermore, the Spartans are seeking their fifth conference championship as they find themselves as the favorite to win the Sunshine State Conference title, receiving 7 of 8 first-place votes and 49 total points in the 2025 SSC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll.
Despite losing key players from last year's title run, several key players return to anchor the team, including four USA Lacrosse Preseason All-Americans. Peyton Howell and Sophi Wrisk landed on the All-American First Team, while defenders, Lexi Waters and Delaney Stahrr earned spots on the Second and Third Teams, respectively. Additionally, Howell was just named the USA Lacrosse Division II Women's Preseason Player of the Year on Friday. In Tampa's Championship matchup against Adelphi, Howell recorded a goal and five assists to help the Spartans secure the title, in a season in which she produced 46 goals and 27 assists.
About the Tars: The Rollins women's lacrosse team enters the 2025 season ranked fourth in the Sunshine State Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, trailing only Saint Leo, Florida Southern, and Tampa. The Tars finished the 2024 campaign with an 11-6 record, closing out the season with an overtime loss in the SSC Tournament first round.