Panthers Come from Behind to Beat Rollins in SSC Semifinal

Allie Modica - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

For the second time in eight days, the Florida Tech Panthers took down the Rollins Tars in an instant classic. The Panthers overcame a five-goal deficit to win 19-14 and earn a spot in Sunday’s Sunshine State Conference title game against the Florida Southern Moccasins.

Last Thursday, the Tars led early in the regular season finale and the Panthers came back to win. They did so again on Friday, jumping out to a 5-0 lead, only to see the Panthers storm back and win again.

It was a total team effort on Friday, with Allie Modica leading the charge with five goals and an assist. Caroline Dunleavy tallied four times and had an assist. Aleah Fjelstad also had four goals, while Sara Grenier had a hat trick and Mary Gormley had four assists.

The Panthers took 39 shots, 33 on goal. They forced 27 turnovers, while Rollins got 21. The Tars did have a 19-13 advantage in ground balls and held an 18-15 edge in draw controls.

Hannah Ashton, who led the Tars with five goals, got them off to a quick start, scoring twice in 26 seconds. Megan Cury, Kallie German (four goals) and Paige Brock added single tallies against Florida Tech starting goalie Stephanie Stuart and it was a five-goal lead, with 22:42 to go in the first half.

Although things did not start well for Stuart, she made seven saves in the game, many in key situations, keeping the Panthers within striking distance all night.

Modica finally got the Panthers on the board when she punched one past freshman goalie Sarah Neely, with 19:16 left. The teams traded a couple goals, before a turnover in front of the Tars net led to a goal by Dunleavy in front, cut the Rollins lead in half, 6-3.

Ashton got two quick ones later in the half, scoring goals 51 seconds apart and giving her team a 9-5 lead, with 12:04 to go in the half. She had four goals at that point.

The Panthers kept their heads down and kept clawing. A goal by Fjelstad and the second goal of the night from Alexis Townsend, made it 9-7, with 8:51 to go. Modica then scored twice in less than two minutes, to tie the game at nine. Grenier gave the Panthers their first lead of the night with 1:26 left in the half. The score remained that way at the break.

Fjelstad - Credit: James Ragan
Cury got the Tars going a couple minutes into the second half, tying the game 10-10. The Tars were poised to take the lead moments later, after Modica was called for a high-check but Stuart made a great save. Unfortunately, Rollins came right back with a goal on a free-position shot and regained a one goal lead with 23:55 to go.

Malorie Olin took over for Neely to start the second half and she gave up a goal on a failed clear that ended up in the stick of Gormley. She dished to Dunleavy, who ripped it home, tying things at 11, with 22:31 left.

Modica scored two more goals, sandwiched between two from the Tars, tying things at 13, with 13:52 left in the game.  German answered quickly, giving her team a short-lived lead, but a goal by Sam Schiano tied things up once more.

The momentum shifted with 8:40 to go, when Dunleavy chased Olin around her own net and stayed with her, eventually knocking the ball away and scored, giving the Panthers a 15-14 lead.

The Panthers then proceeded to hit the post twice in quick succession, but they got a goal from Fjelstad with 3:07 left, giving them a two-goal lead. After running some clock and getting a false start called against the Tars, Dunleavy scored with 1:58 left, making it 17-14. A goal by Grenier with 23.2 seconds left and Fjelstad’s goal with 2.3 seconds left, capped the scoring.

For more info: Rollins @ Florida Tech Box Score (Bryant Stadium in Lakeland)


The Panthers (13-2) will now try to take down the regular season conference champion Moccasins in the SSC title game on Sunday. These two teams played a great game back on April 1, that the Mocs won 12-11 in OT. First draw on Sunday is set for 1:00 p.m. 

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