By Noel D’Amico
The Spartans are 2-0 following week one of the 2024 lacrosse season. Under the Friday night lights, Tampa took on No. 18 Rockhurst in their home opener at Naimoli Field.
Rockhurst opened the game by scoring the first goal. Tampa responded with three straight goals in the first quarter and ten in the second, with no response from the Hawks. Six goals came from Canyon Birch and Andrew Milani, who each recorded a hat trick this game.
After the game, Birch credited his defense for making these scoring opportunities possible.
“Having a defense we can rely on, we can make the extra plays and take the extra chances,” Birch said. “They build our confidence and help us play better.”
The defense did that, holding Rockhurst to just one point for the entire first half of the game.
The Spartans opened their season at Flagler on Feb. 6. The offense started slowly but ended with a 15-6 win. After calming the first-game jitters, the offense clicked in the home opener.
“Last game, we played one on one ball,” Milani said. “Today, everybody was working and just getting each other open.”
It was a high-scoring game for Tampa, ending in a 23-7 win.
This is the Spartans’ first season with new offensive coordinator Jay Goldsmith. Since fall ball, they’ve been working together to create a potent offense.
“We’ve built a really good relationship,” Goldsmith said. “The guys show up every day ready to work. They’re extremely coachable and want to learn.”
Beyond the numbers, it was a special game for junior Dom Rottura, who played his first home game since his senior year in high school. He was out the past year with an injury but was back on the field Friday night with his team.
“A lot of nerves going into it, but no better feeling than being out here with my brothers,” Rottura said. “It’s a blessing to play this sport every day and a blessing to be out here in Tampa, Florida. I couldn’t ask for a better group of guys to be by my side.”
The bond of this team is so evident in their play and how they speak of each other. The respect and brotherhood across the team, from first-year to grad students, is unique and something you don’t see in every program. It creates an environment of healthy competition. Everyone is striving to be their best for each other.
The team takes on No.1 Lenoir-Rhyne this weekend in Savannah, Georgia. Last season, Tampa lost to the Bears in the first round of the playoffs. Lenoir-Rhyne then went on to win the 2023 National Championship. It’s a big game for the Spartans, who have been anticipating this match-up since the end of last season.
While it’s a big game, the team focuses on improving daily. “We don’t need to be great this Saturday,” Head Coach J.B. Clarke said. “We need to be great in May.”