Unbeaten Florida Tech Enters National Men’s Soccer Poll

By  //  September 25, 2012

Road Game Against Rollins College Wednesday

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Florida Tech Panthers are impressing national soccer coaches and poll voters.

Florida Tech's Gary Ogilvie wrestles for control of the ball with Tampa's Rae'shaun Washington during a recent men's college soccer game. (Image courtesy of Amanda Stratford)

Florida Tech earned four points in Sunshine State Conference action last week, going 1-0-1 with a 1-0 victory over Saint Leo on Saturday.

The Panthers are still unbeaten on the season with a 5-0-2 record and moved into the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Poll at No. 20 on Tuesday.

“We are not here to try and get rankings. We are here to win games and progress, but to get people to notice our program is always a good thing,” Panthers coach Robin Chan said. “This is just motivation for us, not a focal point.”

The Panthers began the week with a 1-1 draw at Eckerd after scoring the game’s first goal in the 33rd minute. On Saturday, Florida Tech shut out Saint Leo, 1-0, at home. The Lions entered the game with four shutouts of their own, and just one loss in overtime to No. 1 Lynn, 1-0. The Panthers scored the first regulation goal against Saint Leo this season.

Florida Tech has its first test as a top-25 team Wednesday when it travels to Winter Park to take on conference rival, and No. 16, Rollins College at 7:30 p.m. at Barker Family Stadium at Cahall-Sandspur Field.

“We have an opportunity tomorrow against a team that has had a good start to the season as well,” Chan said of No. 16 Rollins. “We have a long history against them, so rankings go out the window. We will be focusing on the game rather than the rankings.”