Tars Lock Up SSC Tournament Berth with Win Over Lions

SAINT LEO, Fla. (April 16, 2022) – Rollins earned a key Sunshine State Conference victory, using a pair of late goals to defeat Saint Leo, 11-10, on a hot day at University Turf Field.  The Tars lock up a Sunshine State Conference Tournament spot and improve to 11-2 overall, 4-2 against conference opposition.  Saint Leo falls to 5-7 overall, and remains winless in SSC action, at 0-5.
 
The Tars got, a career high, four goals from Justin Spencer to lead the Rollins offense.  His fellow attackman Jack Johnstone tallied a pair, as did Justin White and Finn Jent, out of the midfield.  Bailey Pringle scored once, and dished out, a team best, three assists.  Rob Champigny caused three turnovers and picked up four groundballs to lead the Rollins defense.  Patrick Thomas was huge in net for Rollins, registering 14 stops, playing the full 60 minutes between the pipes.
 
Saint Leo got a hat trick from Evan Wray.  Guy Bistrow registered a four point afternoon, tallying two goals and two assists.  Michael Flores starred for the Lions, winning 21-26 faceoffs.  In net, Evan Hock made 13 saves, while allowing 11 goals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Quarter

• Justin Spencer opened the scoring, picking up a groundball in front of the cage and placing a close range shot over the keeper.
• The junior then doubled his tally, collecting a feed from Bailey Pringle and finish behind his back to put Rollins up 2-0.
• Saint Leo would respond with a pair of scores of their own, evening the tally before the first break.

Second Quarter

• Finn Jent got on the board early, beating his defender and firing home his first goal.
• Spencer would give Rollins their two goal lead back with another in tight finish off a Pringle feed.
• Spencer would bury his fourth to make the score 5-2.  Pringle again found his line-mate on the crease, and this time Spencer sent a back handed shot low to high and over the keeper's stick.
• Rollins defense held the Lions off the board for the entire period, as part of a 21:17 scoreless streak by Saint Leo.  Patrick Thomas made eight stops in the second quarter.

Third Quarter

• Jent grew the Tars lead to 6-2 with his second, but Guy Bistrow answered for the Lions, keeping the score with three.
• Pringle net his lone goal to make the score 7-3, but again the Lions answered, this time with a pair, cutting the Tars lead to 7-5.
• Jack Johnstone would make the score 8-5 with two minutes left in the period, calmly picking up a groundball and shooting it home, while the rest of the field was not sure where the ball was.

Fourth Quarter

• Justin White dodged down the ally and scored to start the fourth quarter, giving the Tars a four goal lead, at 9-5.
• Saint Leo would then come alive, scoring five consecutive goals, and leaving the Tars trailing for the first time on the day, with just 3:40 remaining.
• Rollins would equalize with just over a minute to play. Johnstone found White coming off a pick and gave him a perfect pass. The Maryland native then fired a shot just off the goalkeeper's hip, and inside the pipe, to make in 10-10.
• The Tars won a scramble for the ball on the next faceoff.  In the ensuing possession, Spencer bounced a shot off the pipe, but Johnstone was there to pick up the rebound and fire it into the top corner of the net for the game winner.

UP NEXT:
The Tars close their regular season on Saturday, April 23, when they host Florida Tech at Cahall Sandspur Field.  Faceoff is set 1 p.m.
 
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