via the school press releases/websites

BOX SCORE

Spartans Defeat Conference Foe in Top 5 Battle at Home

TAMPA, Fla. – No.3 Tampa defeats No. 5 Rollins in First Conference Matchup of the Season

HOW IT HAPPENED

The game began with Tampa wasting no time, with Nick Papa netting the opening goal off a pass from Owen Miller. Just under two minutes later, Matthew Beddow netted a goal to build the Spartan lead. Freshman Zack Friend found Jackson Bashaw in front of the net for the Spartans’ third consecutive goal. The Tars netted back-to-back goals late in the first quarter to make it a one goal game. The Spartans would head into the second quarter with a two-goal lead behind Charlie Bolesh‘s late goal.

The second 15 minutes would begin with Rollins cutting the Tampa lead to one goal. Canyon Birch would respond immediately after, with Luca Mercaldo making a series of saves to keep the Tampa lead at two. Miller and Ronan Sanchez would each net goals in a thirty second window, causing the Tars to call a timeout. Bolesh and Bashaw netted back-to-back quick goals to build the Tampa lead to five. Bashaw finished off his hat trick with a buzzer beater to send the Spartans into halftime.  

The second half began with an intensity by both teams, each playing well defensively. The Tars would net consecutive goals to cut the Spartans’ lead to four. Miller followed by finishing off his hat trick, while Andrew Milani capitalized off a pass from Friend. Rollins would go on to net consecutive goals again before Alex Poma netted a late goal building the Tampa lead to five headed into the final quarter.

The final 15 minutes began Bolesh finishing off his hat trick, swinging the momentum in Tampa’s direction. Papa would follow up with his second goal of the game before the Tars got one back. Birch then netted his second of the game, making the Tampa lead seven goals once again. The Tars would net a goal with six seconds left, but the comeback would prove too little too late.

Stat of the Game – Charlie Bolesh and Jackson Bashaw each netted hat tricks.

TAMPA POST-GAME NOTES 

• The Spartans have won six straight.
• Luca Mercaldo recorded 9 saves.
• Nine different Spartans contributed to the score sheet.
• Bolesh netted his first hat trick of the season.
• Bashaw netted his second hat trick of the season.
• Zack Friend recorded his second goal as a Spartan.

UP NEXT – Tampa remains at home to take on conference for Florida Southern on Wednesday at 8:00p.m.

*****

Tampa Wins Top-Five Battle with Tars

Rollins fell behind early and couldn’t come back on Saturday night

by Michael Pierce

TAMPA, Florida (March 23, 2024) – The No. 5 Rollins men’s lacrosse team came up short at No. 3 Tampa on Saturday, falling by a score of 16-11. The Tars are now 6-2 on the season, 0-1 in SSC play, while the Spartans go to 8-1, 1-0 in conference.

Jack Johnstone tallied a game-high four points on three goals and an assist, while Sam Mattson chipped in with two goals and Mikey Berkman added two assists. Shahé Katchadurian (6-2) made 11 saves on 27 shots faced.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

First Quarter

• The Spartans scored the first three goals of the game before Johnstone netted a pair to make it 3-2 with 3:45 to go in the quarter.
• Tampa added a goal in the final minute to finish the frame up 4-2.

Second Quarter

• Logan Myers got the Tars back to within a goal just over two minutes into the second, but Tampa responded with three straight goals to go up 7-3.
• Chad Bulera stopped the streak, but the Spartans tallied three more in the final three minutes of the half to hold a 10-4 halftime advantage.

Third Quarter

• Mattson and Grant Hansen opened the second-half scoring, trimming the deficit to 10-6 with 9:16 on the clock.
• After Tampa scored a pair, Mattson and Sean Caracciolo found the net to make it a four-goal game again, this time at 12-8.
• UT scored late in the quarter to hold a 13-8 edge going to the final period.

Fourth Quarter

• Tampa scored the first two goals in the fourth before a William Metz marker made it 15-9 with 8:22 to play.
• The Spartans got their final goal with just over seven minutes to go, but the Tars could only find two late ones from Johnstone and Charlie Metz as Tampa held on for a 16-11 win.

UP NEXT:
The Tars will be back at home for the first time in over a month when they host Florida Tech next Saturday, March 30 at 5 p.m.

Fans can follow the Tars all season long at RollinsSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest #TARnation news by following Rollins Sports on Facebook, X, and Instagram.