Spartans Set Scoring Records in Win over Lees-McRae

TAMPA, Fla - The No. 6 ranked University of Tampa men's lacrosse team scored a program-high 27 goals, to defeat Lees-McRae 27-3 Thursday afternoon at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex. With the win the Spartans improve to 6-0, while the Bobcats fall to 0-6 on the season.

Tampa struck first as Conor Whipple found Jake Rooney for a goal four minutes into the first quarter. Trevor Calleja won the ensuing faceoff, then picked up the ground ball, and found Whipple for a goal to extend the lead to 2-0. Then Rooney scored back-to-back goals to give Tampa a 4-0 lead with 5:26 left in the opening period. Minutes later, Jonathan Franzese connected with Mike Morris for a goal. The Spartans scored three more times in a one minute span to take an 8-0 after the first period.

Tampa took advantage of a Bobcats penalty as Nick Ferreiro found Kyle Hemrick for a man-up goal four minutes into the second quarter. Ferreiro won the ensuing faceoff and found Morris in front of the cage for a goal just seven seconds later. The Spartans scored seven more times in the quarter, including three from Rooney, to take a 17-0 lead at half. Shane Giunta made four second quarter saves in the cage to help keep Lees-McRae off the scoreboard.

Just over a minute into the third quarter Dylan Kane scored an unassisted goal to extend Tampa's lead to 18-0. The Spartans took advantage of another Bobcats penalty as Kevin Morris found Ferreiro for a man-up goal.

On Tampa's next possession Conor Smith found Morris in front of the cage for a goal. Lees-McRae scored back-to-back goals to cut the lead to 20-2 with 7:35 left in the third period. Adam Dyson and Dalton Sierra scored back-to-back goals to extend Tampa's lead to 22-2 after the third quarter.

Tampa outscored the Bobcats 5-1 in the fourth quarter for the 27-3 final.

Rooney led the Spartans with seven goals, which tied his season-high he set against Notre Dame de Namur. Ferreiro finished with six points, while Morris and Whipple tallied five points apiece in the contest. Simon Ruppert dished out three assists in the fourth quarter.

Calleja won 12 out of 13 faceoffs and picked up a team-high nine ground balls, while Morris picked up six ground balls. Wayne Magee and Mike O'Connor tied for a team-high with two caused turnovers apiece.

Tampa's 27 goals surpass the previous team mark of 22, which was set earlier this season against Notre Dame de Namur.

The Spartans will return to action Saturday, March 15, when they host conference rival Florida Southern at 8 p.m. It will be the Spartans first conference game as a member of the Sunshine State Conference.

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

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