Men’s Lacrosse Faces #4 Limestone in Home Opener

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's lacrosse team will host perennial power Limestone College in its home opener Friday night at 7 p.m. at Pepin Stadium. It will be the second ever meeting between the two schools and the first time the Saints are traveling to Tampa.

Limestone won last year's meeting 13-7 before advancing all the way to the NCAA Division II national championship game in 2012.

Tampa comes into this game 1-0, after defeating Florida Southern 12-7 in the season opener last week. Tampa is receiving votes in the preseason coaches poll, which was released February 11. The Spartans are led by Joey McMahan, Nick Ferreiro, and Joseph Fiorucci. McMahan led the Spartans with four goals and seven points in the opener, while Ferreiro netted three goals. Fiorucci made 10 saves in the win.

Tomorrow's game will serve as the season opener for Limestone, who went 17-2 and advanced to NCAA Championship Game last season. The Saints have returned 19 players from last year's roster, including five starters. Limestone is led by attackers Riley Loewen and Corey Rich and midfielder Jake Ternosky.

Loewen led the Saints with 48 goals and was second on the team with 20 assist and 68 points, while Rich tallied 32 goals and 11 assists last season. Ternosky led Limestone with a .654 faceoff winning percentage and 101 ground balls.

In last year's game, the Spartans struck first as Kyle Hemrick netted a goal a goal to give Tampa an early 1-0 lead. After a Saints goal, M.J. Lorenzo put the Spartans ahead 2-1. Limestone was able to tie the game 2-2 after the opening period. Jonathan Franzese scored back-to-back goals to give Tampa a 4-2 with 10:17 remaining in the second quarter.

Limestone would score 10 out of the next 11 goals, over the course of three quarters, to give the Saints a 12-5 lead with 10:28 left in the fourth quarter. Franzese and Clemente each netted a goal to cut the lead to 12-7, before Jackson Decker scored for Limestone for the 13-7 final.

Live stats and a video webcast will be available through TampaSpartans.tv.

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