Moccasins Upend Upset-Minded Florida Tech

Mary Gormley - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography
The Florida Tech women’s lacrosse team took the defending NCAA Division II champion Florida Southern Moccasins to the limit on Saturday, as the Mocs escaped with a 12-11 win in overtime. 

Florida Southern came into the contest ranked fourth in the country, while the Panthers were ranked 10th, for the first time in the three-year history of the program.

The game was everything you would expect from two nationally ranked programs and came right down to the end. The Panthers took their only lead of the game on a goal by Mary Gormley with 4:10 left in the game, giving the Panthers an 11-10 lead.

It looked like that would be enough, but Kendall Kerge had other ideas. With nine seconds left in regulation, she beat Florida Tech goalie Stephanie Stuart, tying the game at 11. It took just 52 seconds into the sudden-death overtime for Florida Southern to avoid the upset, as Shannon Mazza scored the game-winner.

The loss snaps an eight-game winning streak for the Panthers, who drop to 0-1 in the Sunshine State Conference. Florida Tech deserves a ton of credit, despite the loss. They trailed for 55 minutes plus in this one and just kept battling the entire way to stay in it.

The Moccasins (13-2, 2-0 SSC) jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but Gormley scored twice and Allie Modica added one, tying the game at four. From there, it was the O’Brien show, as Casey scored once and Meghan scored two, giving Florida Southern a 7-4 lead, with 2:39 to go in the half. That lead held into the break.

Kerge got things going in the second half for the Mocs, scoring 53 seconds in. Lauren Tybor scored the Panthers first goal of the half, with 13:58 to go, making it 9-6. The teams then traded goals, with Florida Tech’s coming off the stick of Modica, on the man-up.

Sara Grenier scored consecutive goals with 8:30 and 6:42 left, before Tybor tied it 14 seconds later. got three consecutive goals against Florida Southern goalie Taylor Gillis.

After winning the ensuing draw, the Panthers kept possession for almost three minutes. Unfortunately, after a turnover, the Mocs converted on their opportunity, with Kerge tying things up with nine seconds on the clock.

The teams would then go into the three-minute OT, which still had 2:08 to go when Mazza found the back of the net.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Florida Southern Box Score

Modica and Gormley each finished the game with a hat trick, leading the Panthers scoring attack. Florida Tech finished with more shots, 34-21, and won more draws, 12-9. They were beaten in ground balls, 20-16.

Stuart made five saves for Florida Tech, while Gillis made 17 on the other end. She literally saved the game for the Mocs.

Next up for the Panthers will be a non-conference home game against Regis, out of Colorado. That game will be played Friday at 3:00 p.m. at Florida Tech Panther Stadium.


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