SAVANNAH, Ga. – The University of Tampa lacrosse team loses its first game of the season, 7-5 to Belmont Abbey College. Tampa goes to 3-1 on the year as Belmont Abbey improves to 2-1. The first period was quiet for both teams, as the score was tied at 0-0 after 15 minutes of play. The two schools each had 5 shots. In the second quarter, Belmont Abbey opened the scoring with a goal by Dan Morrissey 1:19 into the period. BAC added three more goals in the second; as Josiah Nash, Joey McGinley and Scotty Steele each had unassisted goals. The Crusaders ended the first half with a four goal lead. Belmont Abbey took 16 shots in the first half, 11 in the second period alone and connected on four. Tampa only took nine in the half, and was out shot by seven in the second period. The second half started similar to the beginning of the game. It wasn’t until the 7:10 mark in the quarter that Dan Morrissey netted his second goal of the game, giving BAC a 5-0 lead. The Spartans came back for the fourth period looking like a new team. UT tallied 16 shots in the period and was finally able to put a goal on the board. A.J. DeSimone scored back to back goals 1:47 apart from each other less than three minutes into the fourth. The goals were DeSimone’s eighth and ninth of the season. Josiah Nash scored his second for the Crusaders, which would end up being the game winner. Ryan Corrigan had the assist on the goal. Less than two minutes later, Jonathan Franzese responded with a goal of his own. It was the freshman’s fifth of the season. With just over nine minutes remaining in the game, the Spartans trailed 6-3. Captain Greg Griffo scored fifth goal of the season bring the Tampa to within two with 6:43 left in the game. However, Ryan Corrigan scored with just over three minutes remaining to give Belmont Abbey another three goal lead. Franzese once again cut into the deficit with his second of the game, but wouldn’t be enough for the Spartans as time was not on its side. DeSimone now leads the team in goals with nine and 11 points. Tampa heads to Melbourne on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to face conference foe Florida Tech. Live stats will be available through TampaSpartans.com. Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/utspartans) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans). UT also offers blAst, a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com. Box Score