Florida Tech Panthers Play Strong Defense In Blanking Union Tennessee 2-0

Allowed just three shots on goal

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA –Only one match is in the books thus far in 2016, but the Florida Tech offense already has the look of a potentially dangerous bunch. 

Lead by goals from Evan Enders and Adin Kavara, the Panthers added their first ‘W’ to the win column with a commanding 2-0 victory over Union (Tenn.) on a soggy Thursday night at Rick Stottler Field.

The Bulldogs had to wait until the 73^rd minute to record their second shot of the contest and were limited to just one corner kick the entire evening.

Still, Florida Tech Head Coach Robin Chan insists there’s still plenty to improve on, although he appeared pleased with the opening result.

“It’s always important to put in a good performance in the first game of the season,” Chan said.

“I thought we were solid tonight, nothing outstanding, but I thought we controlled the game for the most part. We maybe could’ve gotten ourselves a bigger cushion earlier on in the game, but sometimes that’s not the case and you have to grind it out a little bit.”

The Panthers set the tone early with immense energy and pressure, laying the foundation for what ultimately ended in a whopping 19-4 shot margin over their counterparts from the Gulf South Conference.

Kavara, along with Sam Sawyer, kept Union (Tenn.) keeper Igor Luczensky on his toes in the early going, firing missiles off the post and crossbar. Yet, the Bulldogs seemed fairly content with their pack line strategy and managed to remain even with the Panthers.

Still searching for the breakthrough, Chan called upon Enders off the bench in the 32^nd minute and was soon delightfully rewarded. With possession near the goal line, the former Holy Trinity product weaved his way through multiple defenders before beating Luczensky to give Florida Tech the 1-0 edge in the 40^th minute.

“It was a good moment for Evan because we felt both teams were tiring,” Chan said.

“The energy that Evan brings to the table can be game-changing. It was nice for him and for the team to get that opening goal.”

The 1-0 cushion remained intact into the 74^th minute, but soon doubled as Florida Tech continued to push the pace. After Florida Tech earned one of its eight corners in the contest, Sawyer played a well-executed ball off his head to the feet of Kavara, who finished the rest from there.

Freshman keeper Christian Moerch couldn’t have asked for a smoother start to his Florida Tech career, picking up the clean sheet with three saves in the win.

Florida Tech will return to the pitch this Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET, as it welcomes Mississippi College to town.

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