Box Score Tampa, Fla. – (3/1/2016) – With the first half evenly contested, 5-5, the University of Tampa used a 7-1 second-half run to prove themselves as the stronger side in a 12-6 decision over Chestnut Hill College. The Griffins were led by junior attack Alec Dambach (Howell, N.J.) and sophomore attack Dylan Klusaritz (Slatington, Pa.), who both recorded two goals and an assist.
 
Chestnut Hill College (0-2) was first on the scoreboard with junior midfielder Justin Albarran (Freehold, N.J.) scoring an unassisted tally less than two minutes into the opening frame, 1-0 (13:17). But the University of Tampa (4-1) scored two goals in the next seven minutes with unassisted goals from junior attack Conor Whipple (Tampa, Fla.), 1-1 at 9:38, and senior attack Jake Schmidt (Rochester, N.Y.) pushing the Spartans ahead 2-1 with 6:49 remaining in the opening quarter. Determined to keep the home side close, the Griffins managed to even the contest before the close of the period thanks to a connection from junior midfielder Andrew Dooley (Monroe Township, N.J.) to Dambach just before the two-minute mark (2:15), 2-2. The second quarter consisted of three lead changes as an exchange of tallies, initiated by a Whipple goal at 10:56 (3-2), precipitated a last-second score from senior midfielder George Markey (Branchburg, N.J.) to leave the halftime spread even, 5-5.  
 
After intermission, a five-goal streak put the Spartans in the catbird seat for the second half. The fifth tally of the run came at 12:38 of the fourth quarter, when Schmidt located senior midfielder Matt Bilak (Penfield, N.Y.) to put the home team up 10-5. Klusaritz scored on an unassisted goal a little over three minutes later, 10-6 at 9:24, but the effort was in vain as the Spartans recorded two more goals before the final horn, 12-6.
 
Whipple led the Spartans with four goals and two assists. He was supported by Schmidt, who totaled two goals, an assist, and two ground balls, and Bilak, who also recorded two goals and an assist while collecting a ground ball. The Spartans held a 32-18 ground-ball advantage with sophomore midfielder Alex Patton (West Hempstead, N.Y.) collecting game high nine ground balls off a 17-of-20 (.850) face-off performance. Junior goalkeeper A.J. Arnold (Southborough, Mass.) earned the win (4-1) and secured 10 saves.
 
For the Scarlet and Gold, Dambach attempted five shots, netting his two goals while providing an assist and a ground ball. Klusaritz scored his two goals on seven shots and assisted Dambach on his second score. Albarran and Markey accounted for the other Griffin goals while sophomore defenseman Daniel DePasquale (Livingston, N.J.) led the Chestnut Hill College backfield with three groundballs and one caused turnover. Despite the loss (0-2), junior goalkeeper Thomas McDermott (Ridley, Pa.) made 13 saves while sharing the team-lead with three ground balls.
 
The Chestnut Hill College men's lacrosse team heads to Lakeland, Florida, on Thursday, March 3, for a 1:00 p.m. contest against Florida Southern College.