WOMEN’S SOCCER – The Florida Tech Panthers continued the 2014 season Wednesday afternoon as they traveled to face Armstrong State.
Elin Svensson, above, and the Panthers fell at Armstrong State 3-1 earlier this week. (Florida Tech image)
The Panthers got behind in the first half, and could not rally all the way back as the Pirates earned the 3-1 victory.
The match was scoreless in the first half until Armstrong State (4-2) broke the deadlock in the 29 minute. Jenny Allen scored her fifth goal of the season for the Pirates off assists from Taylor Russell and Sarah Olin. Both teams took four shots in the first half with the Pirates putting two on goal compared to one for the Panthers.
Armstrong State added to its lead in the 66th minute when Allen scored her second goal of the match. Taylor Valley recorded an assist on the play, and the Pirates took the 2-0 lead.
The Panthers (3-3-1) rallied to get back into the match with a goal in the 76 minute. Sophomore Lauren Bolhuis scored her first goal of the season off a deflection to make it a 2-1 game. However, the Pirates jumped on the scoreboard again in the 83rd minute. Valley scored her fourth goal of the season as Armstrong State took a 3-1 lead. The Pirates had a chance to add one more goal with a penalty kick, but junior keeper Julia Kantor saved the shot to keep the game at 3-1. Unfortunately, time ran out on the Panthers and Armstrong State took home the 3-1 win.
The Pirates took 14 shots during the match with 10 on goal. The Panthers recorded 11 shots with five being on goal. Kantor finished the match with five saves for the Panthers. Morgan Luckie saved four shots for Armstrong State.
The Panthers will look to rebound this weekend when they open Sunshine State Conference play on Saturday at No. 8 Rollins. Game time is set for 7 p.m. ET at Barker Family Stadium in Winter Park, Florida.
Women’s Basketball Announces 2014-15 Schedule
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL – Florida Tech Panthers head coach John Reynolds has announced the schedule for the upcoming 2014-15 season. The Panthers will play 26 games during the regular season including 14 in the friendly confines of the Clemente Center.
John Reynolds
“I think this is one of our tougher schedules,” Reynolds said, who enters his 28th season as the head of the Panther program.
“We always have tough schedules, but this is as tough as any we have had. I think our non-conference schedule will not only prepare us for conference, but it will also be as challenging as conference play. There is no fluff in this schedule, but if you are going to try to be the best, you have to play teams that also have a chance to be the best. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
The Panthers will host three exhibition games inside the Clemente Center prior to the start of the regular season. The squad will host Warner on Nov. 1, Webber International on Nov. 8, and St. Thomas on Nov. 12.
The regular season begins for the Panthers at Palm Beach Atlantic on Nov. 18. After a game at Fort Valley State, the Panthers will open at home on Nov. 25 when they host Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. The Panthers will spend Thanksgiving weekend in West Palm Beach, Florida when they compete at the PBA Classic before coming home the final five games of 2014.
“We open the season at PBA, and I think that everyone takes them a little for granted,” Reynolds said.
“We also go to Fort Valley State, so our opening week will be a challenge to start with. I think our schedule gradually gets tougher from early November on. It gives us some opportunities to experiment with some things, look at some lineups and see how things fit.”
After playing against Albany State on Dec. 2, the Panthers will host Eckerd in a Sunshine State Conference game on Dec. 6. The Panthers will face Flagler on Dec. 15 before hosting the annual FIT Holiday Tournament on Dec. 19-20. Le Moyne College out of Syracuse, N.Y. joins Shaw, Palm Beach Atlantic and the Panthers as participants in the invitational.
“Eckerd is the hardest team I think to have to play in the first SSC game,” Reynolds said.
“They run the Princeton offense, and it changes the way you play and defend.”
The Panthers will begin 2015 on Jan. 3 when they face Saint Leo in Saint Leo, Florida in SSC action. The Panthers will face Palm Beach Atlantic one more time on Jan. 6 in the Clemente Center before finishing the season with 14 SSC games.
The 2014-15 regular season will end on Feb. 28 when the Panthers play at Lynn. The SSC Tournament takes place March 5-8 at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida. The Panthers return 10 players from the 2013-14 season including senior Kayk Wilson, who led the SSC in scoring last season at 20.1 points per game.
After playing against Albany State on Dec. 2, the Panthers will host Eckerd in a Sunshine State Conference game on Dec. 6. The Panthers will face Flagler on Dec. 15 before hosting the annual FIT Holiday Tournament on Dec. 19-20. Le Moyne College out of Syracuse, N.Y. joins Shaw, Palm Beach Atlantic and the Panthers as participants in the invitational.
