Photo: Kailee O’Brien Credit: Lou Marinacci – Pictures of Motion

The Florida Tech women’s lacrosse team suffered their fifth consecutive loss on Saturday, dropping a 10-5 decision to the eighth-ranked Tampa Spartans.

This game came on the heels of two overtime losses already this season and a loss to perennial powerhouse Florida Southern to start the season.

Panthers freshman goalie Emily Harris kept her team in this game all night long as she recorded 12 saves, including eight in the first half. Tampa’s Alex Walling had 10 saves in the victory.

Tampa (4-1, 3-1) scored the first four goals of the contest, two from Olivia Mott. Alexis Townsend broke the seal for the Panthers with a goal coming with 9:45 left in the first half, her fifth of the season.

It took just 50 seconds for the second Panthers goal out of the stick of Madison Savje, making it a 4-2 game. 

Sisters Cece and Gracie Colombo combined for the Spartans’ next two goals. For Cece, it was her second goal of the game. Kailee O’Brien scored with 4:25 left in the half making it a 6-3 game and keeping the Panthers within striking distance as halftime hit.

The Spartans scored twice to begin the second half, including a hat-trick goal for Mott, giving Tampa an 8-3 lead. After Mollie Kaplan made it 8-4, Tampa’s Gracie Colombo got her second of the night 49 seconds later.

OBrien would get her second of the night cutting it to 9-5, but Emma McLoughlin scored the final goal of the night for either team, as this game would not see a goal in the final 9:28.

For more info: Tampa @ Florida Tech Box Score

Tampa outshot the Panthers 28-17 and the Panthers had 18 turnovers while forcing 14. Tampa went 17-of-18 on clears with Florida Tech going 18-for-22. The Spartans held a 19-18 edge in groundballs, while the Panthers got nine of the 17 draw controls.

Next up for Florida Tech is a visit to Saint Leo on Wednesday. The opening draw is set for 4:00 p.m.