UTampa women's hockey celebrates first national title in program history

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TAMPA, Fla. - The UTampa women's hockey team is still on cloud nine.

"Oh my God, it was awesome," UTampa sophomore center Molly Braga said. "I was shaking with excitement."

The excitement was felt by everyone in the program after what they accomplished. 

"It takes a team effort to really pull something out like this," UTampa women's hockey head coach Carlos Pineros said. 

The backstory:

Back in March, the Spartans women's hockey team won the program's first ever AAU national championship after beating Syracuse 4-2 in the title game. After falling in the big game the previous two seasons, UTampa proved the third time really is the charm. 

"It's great," UTampa senior wing Ava Johnson said. "This was our third attempt against Syracuse, so it is really fun to get the opportunity to win and feel what that feels like in the national championship."

That national championship winning feeling has created a bond that will last a lifetime.

"I will definitely remember it for years from now and keep in contact with all of the girls as well," Braga said. 

Etched in history:

Several UTampa sports programs have won it all over the last few years and the Spartans women's hockey program is excited to add to the trophy case. The trophy looks like a miniature Stanley Cup and all the girls' names will be engraved on it. 

"I hope we can continue to win and bring back all of these trophies," Braga said. "I am just really excited to see how this program grows over the next few years."

It has already grown so much since its inception. 

"We kind of started with classic beer league women's hockey, and it's been cool since I was a freshman all the way up to a senior to see the program grow and for it to become super organized," Johnson said. 

And the Spartans say it would be even better to see this title not just expand the sport on campus but throughout the Sunshine State.

"I really want this to show that here in the south, we have good hockey," Pineros said. "Girls from the north and also from here notice that you can play hockey in Florida and still play for a national championship. It is still possible and definitely achievable because we did it."

What's next:

The UTampa women's hockey program is hosting a college hockey experience this weekend for hockey hopefuls at Clearwater Ice Arena.