Tampa Captures SSC Championship Title for Eighth Time

TAMPA, Fla. – No.3 Tampa captures the SSC Championship after taking down No.9 Rollins at home.

The Spartans would waste no time to begin the game, with Andrew Milani finding Canyon Birch in front of the net to open the scoring in the conference championship matchup. Rollins would respond soon after, tying the game at one. Birch went on to net his second of the game off a pass from Ryan Kemp to put Tampa back in lead. Goalkeeper Luca Mercaldo recorded a save with just under eight minutes left in the quarter, ensuring Tampa stayed in the lead. With just under four and a half minutes, Birch recorded his 10^th hat trick of the season after capitalizing off a pass from Charlie Bolesh. Bolesh would net one of his own less than one minute later, building the Tampa lead to three. The Tars would get one back late in the quarter before the duo of Bolesh and Birch struck again, sending Tampa into the second 15 minutes with a three goal lead.

The second quarter began with Alex Poma winning the opening face-off, sending the Spartans into the offensive zone. Less than three minutes in Birch netted his fifth of the game off a pass from Owen Miller to extend the Tampa lead to four, causing Rollins to call a timeout. Miller went on to net one of his own, capitalizing off a pass from Nick Papa. Just one minute later, Andrew Milani scored, and then assisted Birch's sixth goal of the game extending the Spartans' lead to seven. Rollins would net three consecutive goals to cut the Tampa lead to four headed into halftime.

The second half began with Milani netting back-to-back goals to finish off his hat trick. Rollins got one back on a man-advantage to keep it a five goal game. The Tars continued to find the back of the net, before Papa netted one off a pass from Miller. The teams would head into the final 15 minutes with a four goal difference in favor of Tampa. 

The final 15 minutes began with Miller scoring his second of the game, to cushion the Tampa lead. Rollins got one back before Tampa netted three straight goals behind Kemp, Bolesh, and Zack Friend propeling Tampa to the SSC Championship title. 

Stat of the Game – Tampa are Sunshine State Conference Tournament Champions.

TAMPA POST-GAME NOTES 

• The Spartans have won 15 straight.
• Luca Mercaldo started in goal for Tampa, recording a career best 14 saves.
• Birch netted his 11^th hat trick of the season.
• Milani netted his 10^th hat trick of the season.
• The Spartans boast an 8-0 record in the SSC Finals.

UP NEXT - TBA, NCAA first round begins on Wednesday May 8th at campus sites.