No. 5 Florida Tech Drops SSC Championship Game Against No. 4 Florida Southern 15-7

By  //  April 30, 2018

NCAA Selection Set for Sunday, May 6

After falling behind by a 7-0 deficit, No. 5 Florida Tech was unable to claw its way back and fell to No. 4 Florida Southern, 15-7, in the Sunshine State Conference Championship Game Sunday afternoon at Moccasin Field. (FIT Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – After falling behind by a 7-0 deficit, No. 5 Florida Tech was unable to claw its way back and fell to No. 4 Florida Southern, 15-7, in the Sunshine State Conference Championship Game Sunday afternoon at Moccasin Field.

This is the Moccasins’ (19-1) third straight SSC Tournament Championship while the Panthers (16-2) repeat as the league’s runner-up.

Caroline Dunleavy and Leah Dunn led the Crimson & Gray with two goals apiece. Brittney Embree, Aleah Fjelstad and Sara Grenier each contributed a goal.

Sam Schiano ended the game with a team-high six ground balls to go along with two caused turnovers and a draw control. Lauren Tybor collected four ground balls, two draw controls and two caused turnovers.

Haley Heggblod guided the Panther defense with four ground balls and four caused turnovers and Allie Wood finished with three ground balls and three caused turnovers. Stephanie Stuart made 11 saves in goal for Florida Tech.

The Mocs concluded the matchup with more shots, 33-25, ground balls, 37-28 and draw controls, 21-3.

Shannon Mazza scored the game’s opening goal 2:36 into the contest to give FSC a 1-0 edge. Over the course of the next 13:28, the Mocs tallied six more unanswered goals and grabbed a 7-0 advantage with 13:56 to go in the first half.

Fjelstad and Dunleavy each found the back of the net before halftime and the Panthers went into the intermission trailing, 8-2.

Florida Tech opened the second half scoring three of the first five goals, including two goals by Dunn and one by Grenier, to cut the Mocs’ edge to 10-5 with 15:25 remaining.

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Embree went coast-to-coast for the Panthers’ sixth goal of the game, and the second of her career, to make the score 12-6 with 9:13 left.

FSC closed the game on a 3-1 run to win the SSC Championship by an eight-goal margin. The Panthers final goal came from Dunleavy off an assist from Tybor with 4:05 remaining.

Following the conclusion of the game, a trio of Panthers, Olivia Going, Sam Schiano and Stephanie Stuart, were recognized on the All-SSC Tournament Team for their excellent play during the weekend.

Florida Tech will now set its sights on the upcoming 2018 NCAA Division II Women’s Lacrosse Tournament. The Panthers’ seeding and next opponent will be announced during the NCAA’s selection show on Sunday, May 6.

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