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Tampa Punches Ticket to Second Consecutive Final Four
May 17, 2025

Tampa Punches Ticket to Second Consecutive Final Four

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TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa women's lacrosse defeats Florida Southern for the third time this season, 12-10, to book a spot in the NCAA Semifinals in Salem, Virginia.

How It Happened

  • Tampa would start off hot, scoring the game's first two goals, one from captain Mary Kate Person and the other from Peyton Howell. 

  • Giana Murphy tallied the Mocs first goal at the 10:37 mark.

  • Much of the first quarter would be back and forth, with Florida Southern grabbing the lead at the end of the first for the first time in the game.

  • The second quarter would once again be back and forth, but FSC would grab its largest lead of the game and go up 7-5 around the midpoint of the second quarter.

  • The Spartans would respond with seven straight unanswered goals to end the second quarter up by five.

  • The Spartans had six different goal scorers in the second quarter: Kaylee VanVladricken, Sophi Wrisk, Howell, Person, Kailen Mant, and Maddie Szyluk.

  • Despite a high-scoring affair in the first half, it would be quite the opposite in the second half at Naimoli. 

  • Florida Southern scored the lone goal in the third quarter to cut Tampa's lead to four heading into the final quarter of action.

  • The Mocs would continue to fight back, holding the Spartans scoreless in the second half and registering two late goals, but it would not be enough as Tampa would prevail.

 
Spartan Performances

  • Person led all players with four goals and points with five.

  • Tampa advances to its second consecutive NCAA Final Four.

  • The Spartans defeated the Mocs in all three matchups this season. 

  • Savvy Barbosa picked up her 14th win.

  • Lexi Waters led all players in caused turnovers (4).

  • Isabella Avila was tied for a game-high seven draw controls.

  • Spartans would win the turnover battle with 13 compared to the Mocs 18.

  • UTampa outshot Florida Southern 27 to 19.


Up Next: Tampa will travel to Salem, Virginia, to play for a spot in the NCAA Division II National Championship on Thursday, May 22.