TAMPA, Fla. --- Conor Whipple and Andrew Kew recorded five goals each in leading eighth-ranked Tampa to a 17-9 victory over visiting Tusculum Sunday afternoon. The Spartans (1-0) are victorious in their season-opener while the Pioneers (0-2) suffer their second loss of the year to a top-10 nationally-ranked opponent.

Tampa jumped out to an 8-1 lead to start the game, including Kew's hat trick in the opening quarter. Kew scored the first two goals of the game at the 12:50 and 12:09 marks of the first period.

Tusculum's Chris Ryan got the Pioneers on the scoreboard with the first of his two goals in the contest, which was assisted by Nate Wade.

Tampa scored six consecutive goals to extend its lead to 8-1. But TC roared back with four straight goals of their own to end the first half and to trail 8-5 at the intermission. Tusculum got a pair of goals from Dallas Wade, and one each from Nate Wade and Keegan Bell as TC outscored the Spartans 4-1 in the second frame.

TC's Tyler Klarner extended the Tusculum run to 5-0 with his goal 18 seconds into the second half to trim the deficit to 8-6.

Whipple stopped the TC run with back-to-back unassisted goals and Kew followed with his fourth scoring tally of the game to extend the UT lead to 11-6.

Bell notched his second goal of the afternoon before Tampa followed with four consecutive scores to take a 15-7 advantage in the early moments of the fourth period.

Ryan added his second goal of the day, while Ben Boyd notched his second goal of the season.

Bell and Dallas Wade joined Ryan with two goals apiece, while Klarner contributed a goal and a game-high three assists.

Tusculum goalkeeper Kevin Haggerty finished the game with 17 saves, tying a career-best and the second most in program history. TC senior Jake Smith also posted a career-best with his 10 ground balls, while also causing a pair of UT turnovers.

The Pioneers return to action on Feb. 27 as they travel to North Greenville for a 1 p.m. contest.

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