Florida Tech Panthers Sports Roundup

By  //  March 8, 2014

Panthers Host Cardinals in Home Opener Today At 1 p.m.

The Panthers host Wheeling Jesuit University today at 1 p.m. at Hustler Stadium.
The Panthers host Wheeling Jesuit University today at 1 p.m. at Hustler Stadium. (Florida Tech image)

Florida Tech (1-2) and Wheeling Jesuit University (2-0) will meet for the first time ever on March 8 at 1 p.m. at Melbourne Central Catholic High School’s Hustler Stadium. The game will be FIT’s home opener and first of four consecutive home games.

A free shuttle will depart the Clemente Center for the lacrosse game at 12:30 p.m.

Jordan Hayes
Jordan Hayes

Admission is free with a valid Florida Tech ID. The remaining ticket prices are $7 for general admission and $5 for senior citizens ages 65 and up, youth ages 5-16 and non-Florida Tech students with school ID. Children ages four and under are also free.

FIT is coming off of an 8-7 overtime loss to Queens University of Charlotte (2-2) on March 1.Jordan Hayes, a transfer from Alderson Broaddus University, received his first start in goal against the Royals and turned away a Panther-high 15 shots in his FIT debut.

Brian Bacarella
Brian Bacarella

Receiving votes in this week’s United States Lacrosse Intercollegiate Association Poll, the Cardinals upset No. 15 Saint Leo University, 9-6, on March 5. Two days prior, WJU handed first-year program Lynn University a 14-5 loss in its inaugural game.

Brian Bacarella leads FIT with 11 goals, Travis Wunder has won 62 percent of his faceoffs, and Stuart Nystrom has caused four turnovers in the first three games of the 2014 season.

Live stats, audio and video will be provided and can be accessed by visiting the men’s lacrosse schedule page on FloridaTechSports.com, the official home of FIT athletics. JC Meyerholz will have the call, beginning with the pregame show at 12:45 p.m.

Following Saturday’s contest, the Panthers host Catawaba College (2-3) on Monday, March 10 at 7 p.m.

Rowing Hosts First Race of 2014 Season on Today At 9 p.m.

Florida Tech’s rowing season begins on Saturday with the Keuper Cup starting at 9 a.m. at Canal 54. Also competing in the race will be Grand Valley State and Jacksonville University.

Florida Tech’s rowing season begins today with the Keuper Cup starting at 9 a.m. at Canal 54.
Florida Tech’s rowing season begins today with the Keuper Cup starting at 9 a.m. at Canal 54. (Florida Tech image)

Races are scheduled to go off every 20 minutes and the last event, the men’s freshman/novice four, is set for 11:20 a.m. Canal 54 is located about 30 minutes south of campus off Babcock Street.

The morning will begin with the men’s second varsity eight at 9 a.m. It will be followed by the women’s third varsity eight at 9:20 a.m., and the women’s first varsity eight at 9:40 a.m. The men’s third varsity eight and freshman eight is set for 10 a.m.

At 10:20 a.m., the men’s first varsity eight race will begin. The women’s second varsity eight event is at 10:40 a.m. The women’s freshman/novice four is at 11 a.m., and the men’s freshman/novice four signals the end of racing.

Adam Thorstad
Adam Thorstad

Saturday’s race is the first of three straight home races for the Panther men. They’ll oppose Wentworth next Saturday, March 15 at Canal 54 and then Jacksonville again on Saturday, March 22. The month of March will conclude with a trip north to take on the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, March 29. The Keuper Cup is also the first of three home races for the FIT women. They’ll welcome Assumption to Canal 54 next Friday, March 14 before hosting the Governor’s Cup on Saturday, March 22.

Races are scheduled to go off every 20 minutes and the last event, the men’s freshman/novice four, is set for 11:20 a.m. Canal 54 is located about 30 minutes south of campus off Babcock Street.

Both teams will take part in the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships April 4-5 in Sarasota, Fla. and the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn. April 18-19.

The women will return to Sarasota on Friday, April 25 to serve as hosts of the Sunshine State Conference Championships at Nathan Benderson Park.

FIT’s men and women will then travel to Philadelphia, Pa. for the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta May 9-10. The men are scheduled to conclude their season at the IRA Regatta May 30-June 1 in Mercer Lake, N.J and the women will look to qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships set for May 30-June 1 in Indianapolis, Ind.