Balanced Scoring Helps Spartans Clip Redhawks

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The No. 4 University of Tampa men's lacrosse team had four players net hat tricks en route to an 18-6 win over Roberts Wesleyan Thursday afternoon at RWC lacrosse field. With the win the Spartans improves to 11-1, while the Redhawks fall to 6-2 overall.

Tampa struck first, taking advantage of a Redhawks penalty, as Bobby Calhoun connected with Kyle Hemrick for a man-up goal. After a Roberts Wesleyan goal, Conor Whipple found Chance Smith in front of the cage for a goal to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead with 6:33 left in the opening period. Trevor Calleja won the ensuing faceoff, picked up the ground ball, and connected with Whipple for the goal six seconds later. Roberts Wesleyan scored a man-up goal to cut the lead to 3-2, before Smith and Mike Morris scored back-to-back goals to give Tampa the 5-2 lead after the first quarter.

The Redhawks scored the first two goals of the second period to cut the lead to 5-4 with 7:14 remaining. Tampa responded with two man-up goals by Hemrick and Morris to take a 7-4 lead into the break.

The Spartans broke the game open in the third quarter outscoring the Redhawks 8-1. Tampa won the opening faceoff and on the ensuing possession Whipple found Jake Rooney for a man-up goal. Morris then netted back-to-back goals to extend the Spartans lead to 10-4 with 13:06 left. After a Whipple goal, Morris connected with Larry Gress for his first goal of the season. Tampa scored two of the final three goals in the third quarter to take a 15-5 lead.

Dalton Sierra, Smith, and Jonathan Franzese each netted a goal in the final period for the Spartans. Matt Benedict found Craig Petit for a man-up goal with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter for the 18-6 final.

Whipple led the Spartans with a pair of goals and six assists, while Morris finished with four goals and an assist. Rooney, Hemrick, and Smith each netted a hat trick in the win.

Shane Giunta made six saves and improved to 3-0 in the cage this season. Nate Tembi led the Spartans with three caused turnovers in the contest.

Tampa will travel to Erie, PA to face No. 9 Mercyhurst Saturday, April 5, at 1 p.m. Livestats will be available through hurstathletics.com

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