Birch's Fifth Hat-trick of the Season Leads Tampa to Double Overtime Win
March 9, 2024

Birch's Fifth Hat-trick of the Season Leads Tampa to Double Overtime Win

CHARLOTTE, NC. – No.4 Tampa defeats No.6 Wingate in double overtime battle on the road.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Tampa wasted no time getting shots on goal early, with Andrew Milani taking the first shot of the game. The Bulldogs opened the scoring about four minutes into the first quarter. Owen Miller responded shortly after to tie the matchup at one. Wingate would net four unanswered goals before Canyon Birch recorded his 17th of the season. The Spartans would go into halftime trailing by three goals.

Nick Papa would get the Spartans started in the second half, netting a man-up goal off an assist from Birch. Wingate would net a few more before Birch scored his second of the game off an assist from Devon Rasmus, keeping the Bulldogs' lead at three headed into the final quarter. The Spartans went on a three-goal run after Birch, Miller, and Mitchell Pfeiffer netted goals in less than three minutes, cutting the Wingate lead to one. With late goals from Birch and Jackson Bashaw, Tampa tied the game at 10 and sent it into overtime.

One overtime was not enough to solve the Wingate defense, so the game was sent into a second overtime. After a face off win by Alex Poma and a couple groundballs, Birch put the game away with his sixth goal of the matchup.

Stat of the Game – Canyon Birch recorded a game leading 7 points (6G, 1A).

TAMPA POST-GAME NOTES 

  • The Spartans have won three straight.
  • Luca Mercaldo recorded 11 saves.
  • Birch netted his 5th hat trick of the season, his third straight.
  • Poma led the Spartans in groundballs, with 12.
  • Tampa outshot Wingate 44-27. 

UP NEXT - Tampa returns home to take on Westminster (Utah) on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

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