#3/2 Mocs Drop First Game of the Season at #1/1 Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. – No. 3/2 Florida Southern dropped its first game of the season and Sunshine State Conference opener to No. 1/1 Tampa 12-8 Wednesday night at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex.
 
The Moccasins (10-1, 0-1 SSC) had trouble early finding their rhythm and fell short against the Spartans (10-0, 1-0 SSC). Rylie Rittberg tallied eight saves on the night in the full 60 minutes between the pipes.
 
Abby McFerren paced the Mocs in goals and points with four each, while Hannah Hale notched three points with two goals and an assist. Jenna Vetter and Giana Murphy tallied a goal apiece in a rare quiet night. McFerren scooped up a team-high five groundballs and had two draw control wins, tied with Kolby Cohen, while the duo trailed Maria Reeves with eight.
 
A trio of Spartans had three goals with Mary Kate Person leading the charge with four total points, with three goals and an assist, while Peyton Howell and Sarah Engle each registered three goals in the game. Savvy Barbosa had nine saves in the full 60 minutes in goal for Tampa.
 
The highly anticipated matchup featured an intense start where it took nearly eight minutes before either team cracked the scoreboard as the Spartans scored on a player-up opportunity at the 7:05 mark. Abby McFerren scored the equalizer with 2:16 to play on a player-up opportunity, but Tampa's Mekelsey Montgomery found the back of the net with just 19 seconds remaining in the quarter.
 
Tampa scored the first goal of the second, but Florida Southern's Jenna Vetter and McFerren each tallied to tie things at 3-3 with 11 minutes to go in the half. The Spartans would rattle off three more to head into the break leading 6-3.
 
The Spartans opened the third like they closed the second with three goals in the first seven minutes to take a 9-3 lead before a quick timeout from the Moccasins' head coach. Florida Southern answered with three straight goals as Hannah Hale found Murphy to get things rolling. Hale would then score back-to-back goals herself to cut it to 9-6 with 4:16 remaining in the third. Tampa's Person would tack on another goal as three quarters closed with the Spartans on top, 10-6.
 
Two players would score the four goals in the fourth quarter as McFerren started things off at the 12:52 mark, followed by Tampa's Sarah Engle. McFerren found the back of the net once again, but Engle closed the door with the final goal 0:22 on the clock.
 
No. 3/2 Florida Southern will look to Saturday's next conference game when the Moccasins welcome Palm Beach Atlantic for a 1:00 p.m. start on senior day.