Home » Home » Florida Tech Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach Mark Penn Announces Panthers’ 2020 Schedule

Florida Tech Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach Mark Penn Announces Panthers’ 2020 Schedule

By  //  January 19, 2020

Florida Tech's home opener SET March 2

With the start of the 2020 season just around the corner, Florida Tech men’s lacrosse head coach Mark Penn has announced the Panthers’ schedule for the ninth campaign in program history. (Florida Tech Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – With the start of the 2020 season just around the corner, Florida Tech men’s lacrosse head coach Mark Penn has announced the Panthers’ schedule for the ninth campaign in program history.

Penn, who enters his second season as head coach and the seventh season overall with the program, is set to guide the Panthers through a challenging 17-game slate, which includes one Division I regular-season game, seven contests outside the state of Florida, and seven home games at Panther Field at the F.W. Olin Sports Complex.

Seven of the Panthers’ opponents in 2020 are ranked in the USLacrosse Magazine Preseason Top-20, including five from the Sunshine State Conference.

“This is going to be a very challenging schedule,” said Penn. “We have the full allotment of 17 games for the first time in our history. We also are slated with some very difficult opponents but our men are up for the challenge.”

Through the first eight seasons of Panther men’s lacrosse, Tech has racked up an overall record of 53-58 while going 17-17 in SSC play over the six seasons the conference has sponsored the sport.

Florida Tech kicks off its campaign with four straight weekends outside of Florida, including the season opener against DI Mercer on the road in Macon, Ga. on Feb. 1. This will be the first-ever regular-season DI game in program history.

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“We are honored that Mercer invited us to play them in a regular-season game,” Penn stated. “The chance to play a Division I opponent in a real game is a great opportunity for our program. Mercer is a strong team, loaded with DI athletes, so we have a huge task awaiting us in Macon.

“To be the best, you have to play the best, and we feel that playing up to an established Division I opponent presents us with the chance to do just that. We will have to be our best that day.”

The Panthers travel to Missouri the following weekend for contests against No. 15 Lindenwood on Feb. 8 and Maryville on Feb. 10. The next week, Tech is in the Palmetto State to take on No. 1 Limestone in Charleston, S.C. on Feb. 22.

“The Limestone game is another opportunity to challenge ourselves mentally and physically,” said Penn. “Limestone’s success speaks for itself. They were just named the team of the decade and are the preseason favorite to win it all. We know it will take our best effort in that game, and I hope our guys aren’t staring at the pinstripes.”

Two days after their matchup with the Saints, the Panthers battle Newberry on Feb. 24 in Newberry, S.C. The early road swing concludes on Feb. 29 when Tech travels to Mount Olive, N.C. to face the No. 8 Trojans on their home field.

“We have a long first month on the road but we feel that this will prepare us for conference play,” Penn added. “The SSC is one of the toughest conferences in Division II. You have to be battle-tested to thrive in this league and we hope that our work in February will pay off when conference play opens in March.”

Florida Tech’s home opener against Saint Anselm will be on March 2nd and that begins a four-game homestand for the panthers. (FIT Image)

Fans will have to wait until Mar. 2 for Florida Tech’s home opener against Saint Anselm, which kicks a four-game homestand for the Panthers. Tech takes on Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham on Mar. 8 and Westminster on Mar. 12.

The Panthers begin their SSC slate when they welcome Embry-Riddle to Panther Field on Mar. 14. Tech then travels to Montevallo on Mar. 22 before resuming conference play by hosting rival No. 6 Tampa on Mar. 28.

Following their matchup with Spartans, the Panthers hit the road for contests at No. 18 Florida Southern on Apr. 1 and No. 17 Rollins on Apr. 4.

Tech welcomes Lynn to Melbourne on Apr. 8 and then travels to West Palm Beach on Apr. 11 to take on Palm Beach Atlantic. The regular season concludes Apr. 18 with the annual Senior Day Game against No. 16 Saint Leo at Panther Field.

The 2020 SSC Men’s Lacrosse Tournament will take place Apr. 23-26 and be hosted by the team that finishes atop the conference at the end of the regular season.

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