TAMPA, Fla. – After a successful 2-0 week for the University of Tampa, the Spartans find themselves at No. 16 in the latest USILA coaches poll, as announced by the association, Monday.

Last week the Spartans defeated Florida Southern College 17-11 on Wednesday, before downing the Lions of Saint Leo on Saturday by a final score of 17-8. Due to his outstanding performance in both games, junior captain Ross Dickerson snagged the SSC Specialist of the Week honor. Against the Mocassins, Dickerson won 24-of-30 faceoffs while picking up 13 ground balls. Facing the Lions, he won 18-of-21 faceoffs and picked up 17 ground balls. For the week, the Berlin, Maryland native won 82.4% of faceoffs and tallied two points off a goal and an assist. Dickerson is second in the SSC in ground balls per game (11.21) and in faceoff percentage (0.766). This is Dickerson‘s fifth weekly award this season and eighth all-time, tying him for second in career men’s lacrosse weekly awards. 

Adelphi sits at the top of the poll, followed by Limestone and Mercy at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively.  To round out the top five, Merrimack sits at No. 4 while LIU Post snags No. 5. The Sunshine State Conference is represented in the poll by the No. 16 Spartans and the No. 20 Rollins College Tars. In addition, Saint Leo, Lynn, Florida Southern, and Florida Tech are all receiving votes. 

This week the Spartans will host No. 20 Rollins on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. before welcoming the Lynn Fighting Knights Saturday, also at 8:00 p.m. Saturday the Spartans will celebrate the squad’s senior class. Be sure to head out to Naimoli Family Field early to help honor these accomplished young men.