TAMPA, Fla. – While Florida Tech men's lacrosse provided the effort on Saturday night, but a 5-0 run either side of halftime put the game out of reach, and Tampa dealt Tech a loss in the Sunshine State Conference opener, 16-8.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: RV Florida Tech 8, #1 Tampa 16
Records: RV Florida Tech (4-5, 0-1 SSC) | #1 Tampa (10-0, 1-0 SSC)
Locations: Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex | Tampa, Fla.
FIRST QUARTER:
- After winning the opening faceoff, the Spartans wasted next to no time, taking the lead after 20 seconds through Davis Lindsey
- Starting at the 12:50 mark, Florida Tech would answer with three goals over a span of 3:17, beginning with Aidan Addison's marker.
- Following a Tampa turnover, Thomas Strong made it count with a goal of his own to put the Panthers on top.
- Andrew Walenty capped the spurt at 9:33, cashing in a feed from Gavin Wessel.
- Tampa began its climb back at 7:48 with a goal from Rafe Bradshaw.
- Zach Johnson's goal at 3:38 sent the game to the second quarter tied at three.
SECOND QUARTER:
- Johnson gave the Spartans the lead for good at 12:55 with his goal following a turnover.
- A little under two minutes later, Bradshaw added his second.
- After fending off a Crimson and Gray attack, Ryan Kemp converted at 8:52 to complete the 5-0 UT run.
- The Panthers won the ensuing faceoff and Walenty made sure that counted as 30 seconds later, he scored to make it a 6-4 game.
- Tampa needed only 43 seconds to respond, doing so through Jackson Bashaw.
- Bashaw scored again 1:33 later, doing so on a second-chance effort.
- Kemp concluded the first half scoring at 5:15 with his second goal to give UT a 9-4 lead at the break.
THIRD QUARTER:
- 1:09 into the second half, Kemp completed his hat trick to make it 10-4.
- Tommy Ortega added to the Spartans lead at 8:01.
- Brooks Van Esselstyn broke the Panthers' 16:54 scoring drought at 6:28 to cut the deficit to 11-5.
- Exactly 60 seconds later, Kemp tallied his fourth of the night.
- Grant Green stretched Tampa's lead to 13-5 at 4:49.
- It would take Tech just 40 seconds to counter, as Jakob Terpak cashed in after the Crimson and Gray won the faceoff.
FOURTH QUARTER:
- Ortega's second of the game restored UT's lead to eight 81 seconds into the final frame.
- Bashaw finished his hat trick at 10:40.
- Rex Kesselring pushed the Spartan lead to double digits eight seconds later.
- Strong earned his second of the night at 7:46, finishing a feed from Terpak.
- Terpak concluded the scoring at 1:05 with his second of the game with a helper from Joe Coveleski.
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:
- Tampa outshot Florida Tech 48-25, along with shots on goal, 23-15.
- The Spartans won the faceoff battle (18-10), caused more turnovers (11-6) and gathered more ground balls (36-19).
- Florida Tech was 14-of-18 on clears, while Tampa went 20-of-21.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- The Panthers are now 1-21 all-time against Tampa and 0-12 at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex.
- Terpak's assist gives him 36 for his career, tying him with Logan Sweeney (2016-2019) for sixth in program history.
UP NEXT: Florida Tech will be back in action next Saturday, March 29
th in Daytona Beach for a Sunshine State Conference showdown with Embry-Riddle. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 11 A.M.
For the latest news, updates and information on the Florida Tech men's lacrosse team, visit FloridaTechSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Panthers news by following Florida Tech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
