TAMPA, Fla. – The Westminster men's lacrosse team didn't; have an answer in the second half in a 21-7 loss at No. 14 Tampa on Tuesday night at the Naimoli Athletic Complex.
 
Playing the second of a four-game in eight days road trip, Westminster (1-2) fell behind 6-1 late in the first quarter. The Griffins were able to trim the Tampa (6-2) lead to 8-4 by halftime behind second quarter goals from Thomas Sarjeant and Troy Vance.
 
Tampa took control of the game after intermission as they Spartans outscored the Griffins 6-0 in the third while scoring the first 11 goals of the second half and taking a 19-4 lead with 8:13 to play. Westminster got goals from Sarjeant, Cole Flinders, and Ryan Coffelt in the final 7:12 of action.
 
The Griffins were able to attempt 31 shots in the game and they put 16 of them on goal. They scored on one of their four extra-man opportunities and went 13 of 14 on clearing attempts. Tampa won 19 of 31 faceoffs and took 44 shots with 30 on cage.
 
Sarjeant led the Griffins with three goals in defeat. He took a team-high six shots and secured three ground balls. Flinders and Vance added an assist each to go with their goals for two-point games.
 
Chase Flinders won six of his 14 attempts at X and Grant Phillips led the team with three caused turnovers.
 
Conner McFarlane made the start in cage and made nine saves in 48 minutes to take the loss. Kyler Banks didn't make a save while playing the final 13 minutes.
 
Andrew Kew had six goals and one assist to lead the Spartans.
 
The Griffins will now make their way to Kansas City, Mo., where their road trip continues Friday with a RMAC game at Rockhurst. Opening faceoff with the Hawks is scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT.