Nine Different Players Score Goals as Florida Tech Cruises Past Newberry Wolves 19-9

By  //  February 25, 2020

team-high four goals on five shots by Justin Williams

Florida Tech dominated the second half of its regional matchup with Newberry on Monday and the Panthers cruised to a 19-9 victory at Setzler Field. (Florida Tech image)

NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA – Florida Tech dominated the second half of its regional matchup with Newberry on Monday and the Panthers cruised to a 19-9 victory at Setzler Field.

“Of course, all the glory goes to God, today our guys played a full 60-minute game,” said head coach Mark Penn.

“They executed the game plan and played with an intensity that we needed to see. That’s a big improvement from where we’ve been lately.”

Nine different players scored goals in the win, led by a team-high four goals on five shots by Justin Williams.

Tommy Bowser and Matt LeCompte each finished with a hat trick. Chandler Hake and Luke Palmisano recorded two goals and two assists apiece while Andy Stump added a goal and two assists. Three other Panthers tallied one goal against the Wolves.

“Our offense as a whole was much more disciplined today,” stated Penn.

“They possessed the ball and took smart shots, for the most part. It was a very balanced scoring effort and that group was extremely coachable today, which allows Coach Zach Wynne to dial up the right looks.”

Florida Tech outshot Newberry 47-28 in the game including a 29-15 edge in shots on goal. Both teams finished with 15 successful clears in the contest while the Panthers ended with an advantage in ground balls (27-22) and face-offs (16-14)

Ethan Tosheff had another solid day at the center X earning 15-of-26 face-offs and collecting three ground balls. Both Brennan Banks and Thomas Gribben registered two caused turnovers in the contest. Kyle Sergio tied a game-high with five ground balls, while five other Panthers registered two ground balls each.

Vincent Palermo got the start in goal and finished with five saves and three ground balls. Jake Hahn and Raymond Francois each saw time in goal for the Panthers and made one save apiece.

“We fought hard for ground balls today and our defense was very solid in 6-vs.-6 sets,” Penn said.

“The face-off unit did their job as well. That combination puts you in a position to win every time.”

Williams got the Panthers on the board first in the game on his eighth goal of the season with 9:27 to go in the first quarter. After the Wolves took a 2-1 lead with 5:22 left in the frame, Williams tied it up with his second of the game, off an assist from Palmisano.

Palmisano gave Tech a 3-2 lead early in the second quarter. The teams then alternated the next five goals, including Hake netting the first of his career, to bring the game to 5-5 with 8:53 remaining before halftime.

Consecutive goals by LeCompte, the first off an assist from Palmisano, and an extra-man tally by Reid Chaconas gave Florida Tech an 8-5 advantage with 5:14 to go in the half. The Wolves added one more goal before halftime and the Panthers took an 8-6 lead into the break. (FIT Image)

Consecutive goals by LeCompte, the first off an assist from Palmisano, and an extra-man tally by Reid Chaconas gave Florida Tech an 8-5 advantage with 5:14 to go in the half. The Wolves added one more goal before halftime and the Panthers took an 8-6 lead into the break.

Tech’s offense came to life after halftime as the Panthers exploded for five unanswered goals, by five different players, on 13 shots in the third quarter. The defense stepped it up as well, shutting out the Wolves in the frame while limiting them to just five shots.

Newberry netted the first tally of the fourth quarter to cut its deficit to 13-7 with 13:14 remaining. Twelve seconds later, Hake scored his second goal of the season and kicked off another 5-0 run by the Panthers that made the score 18-7 at the 6:58 mark of the fourth.

The Wolves fired in two of the final three goals of the game. Nick Cannetti netted the final score for the Panthers, and the first of his career, to seal the victory with 2:58 to go.

“Winning fuels the fire but we are just getting started and need to continue to work hard and improve,” Penn added. “We have another tough test looming next week and we will need another 60-minute effort to beat Mount Olive.”

Florida Tech is back in action this Saturday, Feb. 29, as the Panthers travel to North Carolina for a matchup with No. 13 Mount Olive. Opening face-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex in Mount Olive, N.C.

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