Early Deficit Doom Spartans

Box score

TAMPA, Fla - The University of Tampa women's lacrosse team couldn't overcome an early deficit as it fell to No. 15 Indiana (Pa.) 22-7 on Saturday afternoon at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex. With the win, the Crimson Hawks improve to 2-1, while the Spartans fall to 2-6 on the season.

Tampa struck first two minutes into the game as Maggie Griffo found Eileen Barrett cutting towards the cage for a goal to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. After back-to-back Indiana goals, Morgan Cheripko netted an unassisted goal to even the score at 2-2. The Crimson Hawks scored nine straight goals over the next 17 minutes to take an 11-2 lead with 7:47 remaining in the opening period. Tampa responded as Lyndee Boyce scored an unassisted goal to cut the deficit to 11-3. Indiana scored three unanswered goals to take a 14-3 lead in to halftime.

Tampa won the opening draw of the second half. On the ensuing possession Mallory Mays picked up the ground ball of a Cheripko shot and found the back of the cage to cut the score to 14-4. The Crimson Hawks netted five straight goals, before Cheripko converted a free position shot with 10:49 remaining. After an Indiana goal, Mays found Emilie Barbosa in front of the cage for goals to cut the deficit t 20-6. Indiana responded as Jamie Nicholson scored an unassisted goal with 1:44 left in the second half. One minute later Kirsten Brierley's shot connected with the back of the cage. The Crimson Hawks scored one more time for the 22-7 final.

Cheripko lead the Spartans with two goals and nine draw controls. Griffo and Riley Sindone each picked up three ground balls in the game.

Wylie Cassidy made six saves in the first half for the Spartans, while Jaime Austin made seven saves in the second half.

The Spartans will return to action Tuesday when they host Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) at 7 p.m. Live stats and a video webcast will be available through TampaSpartans.tv.

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