TAMPA, Fla. — Florida Southern College men's lacrosse (1-7, 0-1 SSC) fell to the No. 3 University of Tampa (10-1, 1-0 SSC) with a final score of 14-7 on Saturday night at Naimoli Stadium. This game marked the opening Sunshine State Conference contest of the season for both programs. The Moccasins' offense managed seven goals, with three coming in the fourth quarter. Despite the loss, FSC won 13 faceoffs and secured 27 ground balls. The Spartans, ranked #3, secured the victory with a strong first-quarter performance, leading 5-1 after the opening quarter.
The game commenced with the Mocs taking control from the start as senior
Jacob Czyz won the initial faceoff, leading to an early goal by freshman
Elijah Terry at 13:59. This opening score set a positive tone for FSC. However, Tampa responded swiftly, leveling the score with a goal by Eric Burbank at 12:02. The Spartans then took over the momentum, scoring three more goals, including two by Tommy Ortega, closing the quarter with a 5-1 advantage over the Moccasins.
Florida Southern began the second quarter with a quick goal from sophomore
Noah Courter, narrowing the gap to 6-2. This momentum shift was crucial after the Spartans had taken an early lead with a goal by Grant Green. Despite several clear attempts and defensive stops, including a save by sophomore
Luke Secreti, Florida Southern faced challenges in maintaining possession. Tampa responded with a goal from Rex Kesselring, assisted by Justin Conly, extending its lead to 7-2. The Mocs continued to battle defensively, with Secreti making key saves and senior
Jack Epley forcing a turnover. The half concluded with Florida Southern trailing 7-2, seeking to regroup and close the deficit in the next period.
Florida Southern began the third quarter by gaining possession through a successful faceoff by Czyz, but a turnover halted early momentum. Freshman
Brady Schnurr scored with an assist from freshman
Jack Kennedy, narrowing the score to 7-4. Despite this, Tampa quickly equalized the pressure with a goal by Jackson Bashaw. Subsequently, the Spartans capitalized with a series of goals, extending their lead to 11-3. The Moccasins called a timeout to regroup. Responding after the break, senior
Caiden Wiech found the net, bringing the score to 11-4. The quarter concluded with a solid defensive effort, highlighted by junior
Maddux Walton's ground ball recovery and a late save by Westin Schmidt, maintaining the 11-4 deficit at the end of the quarter.
Tampa opened the fourth quarter with two quick goals by Eric Burbank and Kyle White, extending its lead early. The Mocs responded with a goal from Wiech to spark a rally. Florida Southern's momentum continued as Walton and freshman
Connor Farrell added two more goals in quick succession, narrowing the gap. Despite a late goal by Tampa's Zack Friend, Florida Southern maintained pressure with efficient faceoff plays led by Czyz. The quarter closed with the Moccasins matching the Spartans' scoring output for the period, each team adding three goals, resulting in a final score of Tampa 14, Florida Southern 7.
Wiech led Florida Southern with two goals, converting on three of his five shot attempts. Walton contributed significantly by scoring once and assisting another goal, ensuring his single shot on goal was effective. Czyz controlled possessions, winning 11 of 21 faceoffs to maintain team momentum. Terry added to the scoring tally with one goal from five shots, showcasing a precise aim with four shots on goal.
Tommy Ortega led the Tampa scoring effort with three goals from eight shots, demonstrating effective accuracy with five of those shots on goal. Grant Green contributed significantly with two goals and two assists, making a noticeable impact on the offensive play. Jackson Bashaw stood out with a game-winning goal, ensuring victory with precise shooting, as all his attempts were on target. Rex Kesselring also added two goals from seven shots, showcasing his ability to create opportunities. Lastly, Eric Burbank was a key playmaker, tallying three goals and three assists while maintaining efficiency with four shots on goal.
Looking ahead, Florida Southern will host Palm Beach Atlantic at Berend Field in Lakeland, Florida. The matchup is set for Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m. The match will also be Senior Night for the Mocs.
