Florida Tech Women Soccer NCAA Tournament Run Ends in Penalty Kicks Against Lenoir-Rhyne 4-3

By Daniel Supraner, Florida Tech News Bureau // December 6, 2021

panthers second NCAA Quarterfinal appearance in program history

Florida Tech Panthers women soccer teams NCAA Tournament run ends in National Quarterfinal penalty kick shootout against Lenoir-Rhyne 4-3. (Florida Tech image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Florida Tech Panthers women soccer teams NCAA Tournament run ends in National Quarterfinal penalty kick shootout against Lenoir-Rhyne 4-3.

Panthers controlled the ball on their offensive half for much of the first 45 minutes. Tech outshot the Bears 6-1 in the first half and had a 3-0 edge in corner kicks.

Alexis Sheely gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the 57th minute as she collected a pass from Hanna Maansson inside the box and fired a shot that rang off the left post and ricocheted off the LR goalie and bounced into the net.

Lenoir-Rhyne tied the game at 1-1 in the 64th minute on a goal by Kara Gavaghan off an assist from Neve Duston. The score remained 1-1 as time expired in regulation.

Panthers had 2 good shots on goal in the first overtime but neither was able to find the net. Lenoir-Rhyne had the lone shot attempt in the second overtime but Maria Sanchez Recuero made the save and the game moved onto penalty kicks.

At the end of 110 minutes of play, the Panthers had an advantage in shots (13-5), shots on goal (5-3), and corner kicks (4-0). Lenoir-Rhyne took a 1-0 lead after the first round of penalty kicks as Mayara Queiroz Reis’ shot was blocked by LR goalkeeper Grayson Cameron and Leonie Proessi scored for the Bears.

Lenoir-Rhyne led 2-1 after the second round of penalties as Veronica Thordardottir found the back of the net followed by a good shot from Lenoir-Rhyne’s Madi Kyle.

Florida Tech tied it up at 2-2 after the third round of penalties as JoJo Michaels scored in the lower left and LR’s Stephanie Figueiredo missed wide left.

Panthers led 3-2 after the fourth round of PKs as Vilma Ferdfelt scored right under the crossbar and Sanchez Recuero made the stop on Lenoir-Rhyne Kate Casey’s shot.

Lenoir-Rhyne won the penalty shootout in the sixth round when Emily Swope’s shot was saved by Grayson and Evan O’Leary beat Sanchez Recuero for the victory.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

Florida Tech made it to the NCAA Quarterfinal round for just the second time in program history. The only other time was during the 2010 season.

With the draw, Florida Tech tied the NCAA record for most ties in a season with 9, joining Chico State in 2009.