Florida Tech Soccer Uses Big Second Half To Defeat St. Thomas

By  //  September 12, 2013

Panthers knock off St. Thomas 4-1

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The 2013 regular season continued for the Florida Tech Panthers Wednesday, as they hosted the Bobcats of St. Thomas.

The Panthers were able to take advantage of a big second half, and defeated the Bobcats 4-1 at Rick Stottler Field.

The Panthers offense scored three goals in five minutes to defeat Bobcats 4-1. (Florida Tech image)
The Panthers offense scored three goals in five minutes to defeat Bobcats 4-1. (Florida Tech image)

“St. Thomas is always a good team and a good challenge,” said head coach Robin Chan. “Once they scored the equalizer, I think it was an important period to make sure we didn’t concede another, and try to withstand the momentum they had I thought we did that well, and it was good to get back into the lead relatively quickly after that period.”

The Panthers were first on the scoreboard when they struck in the 20th minute. Freshman Adin Kavara continued to find the back of the net when he scored his fourth goal of the season with a header into the goal. Senior Ricky Menendez assisted on the goal with a cross into the box to Kavara.

Robin Chan
Robin Chan

The goal was the lone scoring play of the first half, as the Panthers took their 1-0 lead into halftime. “If you ask him I am sure he will tell you the most enjoyable part of the game for him is to put the ball into the back of the net,” Chan said of Kavara. “It is obviously a good mentality to have as a forward.”

Down 1-0, the Bobcats rallied to tie the game in the second half. Carlos Cruz put the ball into the net off an assist from Marcelo Norton in the 57th minute.

The goal tied the match at 1-1. The match did not stayed tied for long as the Panther offense came back to life. Menendez put in his first goal of the season in the 65th minute off an assist from Junior Drake Hillman.

“St. Thomas is always a good team and a good challenge,” said head coach Robin Chan. “Once they scored the equalizer, I think it was an important period to make sure we didn’t concede another, and try to withstand the momentum they had I thought we did that well, and it was good to get back into the lead relatively quickly after that period.”

Kavara was taken down inside the box in the 67th minute, and was awarded a penalty kick which he put by St. Thomas keeper Deljan Bregassi. Kavara then made it a second straight hat trick when he scored the third Panther goal in a five minute span. Hillman earned his second assist on the goal, and it put the Panthers up 4-1 in the 70th minute. The Panthers 4-1 margin is all they would need as the match would go final, and the Panthers earned the victory.

“The entire team plays well, I’ve been lucky in the final moments because the goals keep on coming,” Kavara said. “I have had good assists from the other players, and it is not important I get six goals the important thing is that the team wins.”

The Panthers took 18 shots in the match with seven being on goal. The Bobcats recorded 11 shots with four being on target. Michelson Platon was given a yellow card for St. Thomas. Sophomores Will Henderson and Conner Fleming were given yellow cards in the match for the Panthers.

PANTHERS TAKE WEEK OFF

The Panthers will have a week off before they continue their regular season. The squad will travel to face the Tars of Rollins on Wednesday Sept. 18, in a non-conference match in Winter Park. That match will get underway at 7:30 pm. ET. “For the next 48 hours it will be recovery,” Chan said.

“We know what to expect from Rollins, it is a non-conference game, but it is a big region game, hopefully we get a chance to recover, and put in a good weeks work on the training field, and go in and get give everything we got.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION