Spartans and Panthers Set to Clash in Top-15 Showdown

TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa Spartans men's lacrosse team is set to welcome in the Florida Tech Panthers on Friday night into the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex.

The Spartans come into this matchup at a 12-2 marks and 4-0 in the Sunshine State Conference. The Panthers come in with an 11-2 record and 3-1 in the SSC. This is a battle of the top two teams in the Sunshine State Conference, and the winner will claim the SSC regular season title. This will be a battle of top 15 teams, as UT comes in at No. 9, while FIT sits at No. 14

Sophomore attacker Conor Whipple continues to lead the team in points, as he has racked up 55 points on the year. Whipple has been balanced on offense throughout the year, connecting on 30 goals and dishing out 25 assists. Mike Morris has also been a key component for the offense this season, putting away 36 goals to lead the team in scoring.

The dynamic duo of Nick Ferreiro and Trevor Calleja have been instrumental for Tampa, as the two have combined for 200-308 (65.0%) in the faceoff circle. Ferreiro has won 135 of 210 (64.3%) attempts, while Calleja has won 65 of 98 (66.3%).

The NCAA also released its first regional ranking of the season. In the South Region UT currently sits in fourth place behind Limestone, Lake Erie, and Seton Hill. Limestone and Lake Erie both defeated Tampa, while each team was ranked No. 1 in the nation.

The game between the Spartans and Panthers is set to begin at 8:00 p.m.

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