Panthers Explode for 18 Goals in Season Opening Victory

By  //  February 18, 2014

FLORIDA TECH LACROSSE CRANKS UP

HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA – The Florida Tech men’s lacrosse squad celebrated an Opening Day win for the second consecutive season on Monday afternoon as the Panthers offense exploded for 18 goals on the way to an 18-10 victory over Coker College at Bylerly Park.

The Florida Tech men’s lacrosse squad celebrated an Opening Day win for the second consecutive season on Monday afternoon as the Panthers offense exploded for 18 goals on the way to an 18-10 victory over Coker College at Bylerly Park. (Florida Tech image)
The Florida Tech men’s lacrosse squad celebrated an Opening Day win for the second consecutive season on Monday afternoon as the Panthers offense exploded for 18 goals on the way to an 18-10 victory over Coker College at Bylerly Park. (Florida Tech image)

Sophomore Brian Bacarella led the offense with five goals, three coming in the first quarter. Bacarella’s five goals tied his career-high and the midfielder added two assists. Freshmen CJ Nichols and Austen Zugelter teamed for seven goals and three assists in their collegiate debuts and Christian Isola scored two goals. Nick WynneAlex CarlsonNick Brown and Andrew Conley each added one goal apiece. Eric Biller (1-0) improved to 7-7 in his FIT career after recording 12 saves.

With the victory, the Panthers are now 3-0 against the Cobras and the 18 goals are the most in a single game in the school’s three-year history.

The Panthers came out firing in the third quarter and got on the board six times in the stanza to take a 14-8 lead, including the quarter’s first five goals. Nichols scored the first two, followed by Carlson, Bacarella and Isola. FIT closed out the game with two goals in the final minutes of the game to clinch an opening day victory, 18-10.

Brian Bacarella
Brian Bacarella

Florida Tech jumped out to a 5-0 lead before closing out the first quarter with a 6-3 lead. The Cobras outscored the Panthers 4-1 in the first 10 minutes of the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7 before Nichols’ scored his first collegiate goal with two minutes remaining in the first half.

The Panthers came out firing in the third quarter and got on the board six times in the stanza to take a 14-8 lead, including the quarter’s first five goals. Nichols scored the first two, followed by Carlson, Bacarella and Isola. FIT closed out the game with two goals in the final minutes of the game to clinch an opening day victory, 18-10.

For Coker, John Bretton led with four goals, Ryan Maurer recorded three assists and a team-high five points. Goalie Tim Ryan (1-1) fell to 1-1 on the season after allowing 18 goals and registering 13 saves.

Florida Tech won 18 of the 31 faceoffs and added 41 ground balls, led by Travis Wunder’s 17 faceoffs and 12 ground balls.

The Panthers will continue action on Wednesday, Feb. 19 when they take on Belmont Abbey College at 1 p.m.