Second Half Outburst Leads Florida Tech to Upset Win Over Rollins

Sara Grenier - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

The ninth-ranked Florida Tech Panthers finished their 2017 regular season with a huge 14-10 victory over the sixth-ranked Rollins Tars on Thursday night, in Winter Haven.

Sara Grenier continued her hot hand, leading the Panthers with four goals. Allie Modica, Caroline Dunleavy, and Lauren Tybor all had a hat trick for the visitors, who scored nine goals in the second half, to secure the come-from-behind victory.

Rollins took control early, scoring five goals on their first six shots against Florida Tech goalie Stephanie Stuart. Maggie Dougherty scored the first two goals for Rollins and Kallie German made it 3-0, with 23:36 to go in the first half.

Florida Tech got on the board with 21:53 to go, thanks to a goal from Dunleavy, as she beat Rollins goalie Malorie Olin. Goals by Hannah Ashton and Megan Cury made it a 5-1 game, before Grenier and Modica got back-to-back tallies for the Panthers to make it a 5-3 game. Ashton and German answered with goals less than one minute apart, and the Tars extended to a 7-3 lead.

Leah Dunn scored a free-position goal for Florida Tech with 3:03 left in the half and Grenier tickled the twine with 2:37 to go, cutting the Rollins lead to 7-5. It looked as if it would stay that way going into halftime, but Paige Brock was awarded a free-position shot with 1.4 seconds left in the half and she rifled it home right on the buzzer, giving the home team an 8-5 lead at the half.

Rollins (12-4, 2-2 SSC) led in many categories at the half, but both teams were stymied by the officials whistles and were not able to establish any kind of rhythm or flow to the game.

Stephanie Stuart - Photo credit: James Ragan

Unfortunately, that trend continued in the second half, but the Panthers fought through it and were able to find their footing in the second 30 minutes, as they have on a few separate occasions this season.

After Brittany Eveler put the Tars up 9-5 11:16 into the second half, the Panthers reeled off five straight goals. Dunleavy scored the first two and two Tybor goals book-ended a tally from Grenier, her 48th of the season. Just like that, it was 10-9 Panthers, with 12:50 to go in the game.

After German scored to tie the game at 10, Grenier got the lead back for the Panthers with 9:13 to go, 11-10. Modica would score two of the final three goals, with a Tybor goal sandwiched in between. Modica’s final goal came with 18 seconds left and prompted the Rollins broadcaster to throw out the, “you can bet Rollins won’t forget that one,” line.

If the goal was unnecessary, as that statement would seem to indicate, it should set up a great game when these two meet again in Lakeland, next Friday in the Sunshine State Conference semifinals. The time has yet to be announced.

Stuart made four saves on the night, while Olin made five. Rollins took 18 shots, with 14 of them on goal. The Panthers took 25 shots, 19 were on net. The Panthers controlled the ground balls by a slim 18-14 margin, while Rollins took ground controls, 13-11. Rollins had 24 turnovers to Florida Tech's 16 and the Panthers were 20-for-24 on clears.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Rollins Box Score

The Panthers (12-2, 3-1 SSC) finished the season in second place in the conference, behind the Florida Southern Moccasins, who beat the Panthers 12-11, back on April 1.



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