LACROSSE: Victory Gives Florida Tech 2-0 Series Lead after Defeating Palm Beach Atlantic 8-7
By Florida Tech Sports Information // February 17, 2020
Aleah Fjelstad and Kailee O'Brien score two goals each
SPARKS, MARYLAND – The Florida Tech women’s lacrosse team defeated Palm Beach Atlantic 8-7 in a non-conference matchup on Sunday afternoon to cap a successful opening weekend to the 2020 season. The Panthers improve to 2-0 with the win while PBA drops to 1-2.
Aleah Fjelstad and Kailee O’Brien each recorded two goals, an assist and two ground balls to lead Tech. Madison Savje dished out a pair of assists. Mollie Kaplan finished with a goal, four ground balls, four draw controls and two caused turnovers. Three other Panthers scored one goal in the contest.
Olivia Going had another strong day on the defensive half collecting four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Chloe Zador got the start in goal and recorded two saves. Madison Fields played the second half and made five saves to earn her second win of the season.
It was a defensive stalemate all game long as each team fired off just 22 shots in the game. PBA collected more draw controls (10-7). Florida Tech was successful on 20-of-22 clear attempts compared to 17-of-22 for the Sailfish.
Kaplan opened the scoring with an unassisted tally to give Tech a 1-0 lead with 27:07 left in the first half. O’Brien netted her first of the day 33 seconds later to make the score 2-0.
Consecutive goals by the Sailfish evened the game at 2-2 with 18:15 to go before halftime. Morgan Leonard put the Panthers back ahead off an assist from Kailee O’Brien. Alexis Townsend then increased Tech’s lead to 4-2 off an assist from Fjelstad with 9:34 left on the clock.
The Sailfish tallied one more score before the end of the half to trim Tech’s lead to 4-3 at halftime.
Three straight goals by PBA to open the second half gave the Sailfish a 6-4 advantage with 13:21 to go in regulation. O’Brien netted her second goal of the day to bring the margin to one with 8:52 remaining. Fjelstad then tied the game at 6-6 two minutes later off an assist from Savje.
The Sailfish regained the lead, 7-6, with 5:34 to go but Fjelstad struck again to even the score at 7-7. With 4:17 remaining, Savje threaded a pass to Caroline MacLeod who finished it in the back of the net to put the Panthers up 8-7.
PBA increased its pressure over the waning minutes but Fields was up for the challenge as she made two saves over the final 1:47 of game time, including one with three seconds left, to seal the win.
Florida Tech will have 12 days to prepare for its next games on Feb. 28 and Mar. 1 in Georgia. The Panthers face Young Harris on the 28th in Young Harris, Ga. before traveling to Franklin Springs two days later to take on Emmanuel College.
