Late Surge Leads Men's Lacrosse Past Tampa 13-9

SALISBURY, NC -- Catawba handed visiting Tampa its first league loss with a 13-9 victory in Deep South Conference men’s lacrosse action on Sunday afternoon at Shuford Stadium.  The Catawba Indians scored four goals in the final five minutes to snap a tie and improve to 10-2 overall and 5-2 in the DSC.  The Spartans fall to 10-4 and 6-1.

Tampa had battled back from an 8-3 deficit early in the third quarter to pull even on a goal from Jonathan Franzese (Lynbrook, NY) with 7:05 remaining.  Catawba retook the lead when Cory Losselyong (Lewisville, NC/W. Forsyth HS) fed Steven Ridolfo (Charlotte, NC/Providence HS/Gettysburg) with 5:04 left.  The Indians were able to extend the lead with three more goals over the next three minutes.

Twice Michael Pecchia (Coquitlam, BC, CANADA/Heritage Woods HS) started breakaways after saves, leading to goals by Tom Cullop (New Windsor, MD/S. Carroll HS) and Tyler Ulrich (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata HS).  Ridolfo closed out the scoring with 2:14 to go.

Pecchia stopped 14 shots on the day for Catawba, including eight in the first half to help the Indians build a 6-2 lead at the break.  Tampa had scored the first two goals in the opening four minutes, including one from goalie Joseph Fiorucci (Shirley, NY), but Pecchia kept Tampa quiet the rest of the half. 

The Indians scored twice early in the third quarter to take the 8-3 edge at the 13:19 mark, but Tampa would scored six of the next seven goals to draw even.  Kyle Hemrick (Seaford, NY) had four straight Tampa goals and closed the gap to 9-8 just nine seconds before Franzese’s tying goal.

Artem and Ridolfo each had three goals and an assist for Catawba.  Cullop had two goals and one assist.  Hemrick tallied five goals for Tampa.  Fiorucci had four saves in addition to his goal.