Moccasins Overpower Panthers in SSC Title Game

Sam Schiano - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

The Florida Tech Women’s lacrosse team has had a flare for the dramatic this season, but on Sunday, they just couldn’t find their way toward a comeback in the Sunshine State Conference title game, losing to defending SSC and NCAA champion Florida Southern, 20-12.

It was the first trip to the championship game for the Panthers, who are in their third year as a program under Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year Corinne Desrosiers. She won the award for the second consecutive year, earlier this week.

They have grown by leaps and bounds just from last season to this one, but on Sunday, the Moccasins took control early and the Panthers could not any kind of sustained run, to swing the momentum.

Florida Southern (19-2) took the lead 58 seconds into the game on a goal by Kendall Kerge. She beat Florida Tech goalie Stephanie Stuart 58 seconds into the game and that sparked a 6-0 run by the Mocs. Stuart would come up with a big save with 23:52 to go in the first half and that finally stemmed the tide, at least temporarily.

Florida Tech (13-3) who overcame an early 5-0 deficit in the semifinal game at Rollins on Friday, got their first goal of Sunday’s game when Sam Schiano scored with 8:18 gone in the half, making it 6-1. Kerge would score again moments later, before Schiano answered again, with 16:18 to go in the half.

Kerge just ended up being too much for the Panthers. She had five goals with 10:51 remaining in the first half. Her fifth goal made it 9-3. Schiano got her hat trick goal, with 8:13 to go, to close the gap to five. That started a four-goal run for the Panthers that closed the gap to 9-7.

That forced Florida Southern head coach Kara Reber to make a goalie change, putting freshman Alanna Zambetti in for Taylor Gillis. Zambetti played the final 4:52 of the half.
Florida Southern would score two more, to go up 11-7, before Mary Gormley found the back of the net. Shannon Gilfedder’s goal with 32.2 seconds left, gave FSC a 12-8 lead at the half.

Sara Grenier - Photo credit: James Ragan
Sara Grenier had two goals less than one minute apart in that first half while Caroline Dunleavy, Gormley and Allie Modica had one each to go along with Schiano’s hat trick.

The second half started much the way the first half did for the Moccasins. Kerge ripped off two quick ones, with Casey O’Brien following with one of her own, giving the defending champs a commanding 15-8 lead.

The Mocs defense clamped down on the Panthers and Gillis, who was pulled before halftime was back in there for the second half and she played much better, holding the Panthers to four goals the rest of the way.

Aleah Fjelstad had one of those goals and Modica finished with a hat trick, giving her four for the day. She also had to assists, leading the Panthers with six points.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Florida Southern Box Score

Kerge finished with seven goals and two assists to lead FSC. Gilfedder was not far behind, with four goals and four assists. Florida Southern led in shots on goal 26-19, ground balls 18-14 and draw controls, 24-9.

The Panthers have now lost three games in 2017, two coming to the Moccasins. While this is a disappointing loss, they are far from done. Their record, combined with the runner-up finish in the Sunshine State Conference, should be enough to get them a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The NCAA selection show is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on May 7. Fans can access that show by clicking here next Sunday.


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