Three Spartans have Career Days in 14-10 Win

Box score

Tampa, Fla. - Mallory Mays and Morgan Cheripko combined for 11 goals, while Mackenzie Perna dished out four assists as The University of Tampa Women's Lacrosse team defeated Erskine 14-10 Thursday night at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex. With the win the Spartans improve to 3-7 on the season, while the Flying Fleet falls to 5-4.

Erskine struck first as Ali Cole converted a free position shot five minutes into the game to give the Flying Fleet a 1-0 lead. Tampa responded as Mays converted a free position shot of her own to even the score 1-1. Erskine scored back-to-back goals to take a 3-1 lead with 13:57 remaining in the first half. Tampa took advantage of a Flying Fleet turnover as Mays found Emilie Barbosa, who scored an empty net goal to cut the deficit to 3-2. The two teams traded goals before Perna connected with Mays cutting towards the goal and put a shot past the goalie to even the score 4-4. The two teams traded goals to tie the game at 5-5. Cheripko scored back-to-back goals in the final minute of the first half to give Tampa a 7-5 lead at the break.

Wylie Cassidy made a great save for the Spartans to begin the second half and on the ensuing possession Barbosa passed it to Mays for a goal to extend the lead to 8-5. Erskine responded scoring four of the next five goals to even the score at 9-9 with 11:40 left in the second half. A minute later Perna found Cheripko in front of the cage for a goal. Minutes later that tandem found each other again to extend the Spartans lead to 11-9 with 4:35 remaining. Tampa scored three of the final four goals of the contest for the 14-10 final.

Cheripko finished the day with 12 draw controls and six ground balls, while Kerry Glenday picked up three draw controls and six ground balls. Glenday and Eileen Barrett tied for the team lead with three caused turnovers apiece.

The Spartans will return to action Tuesday, March 25, when they host Nyack at 7 p.m. Live stats and a video webcast will be available through TampaSpartans.tv.

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