Sports Lowdown

Keira McCarthy - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography Keira McCarthy scored the only goal of the game Wednesday, giving her team a very important 1-0 win over Rollins in a Sunshine State Conference women's soccer match at Rick Stottler Field.   The Panthers dominated statistically, but Rollins goalie Kelly Rowswell kept her team in the game, making eight saves. The one save she couldn't make was off the foot of McCarthy, who didn't get all of the ball, but enough to just have it trickle over the goal line, with 20:12 to go in regulation. Brie Heitz was given the assist on the goal.   With the victory, the Panthers improve to 7-6-2 overall and move to .500 in the conference with a 4-4-1 record. They are now back in contention for a spot in the Sunshine State Conference tournament, which starts next Tuesday.   Florida Tech took 12 shots in a scoreless first half, with five of them saved by Rowswell. On the other side, Florida Tech goalie Karlyn Prisc...

Josh Thomas - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography The Florida Tech Panthers led twice on Tuesday night only to drop a 4-2 decision to the Rollins College Tars in a late-season Sunshine State Conference match. This was the second consecutive loss for the Panthers, who fell to 9-4 overall and 6-3 in the conference. For the Tars, who were celebrating senior night, they got a much-needed victory, improving to 9-4-1, including 6-4 in the conference.   The night got off to a great start for the Panthers, who caught Rollins back on the heels early and took advantage of a couple Tars turnovers. The last of those turned into a Josh Thomas steal and he found Jan Hlavaca , on a cross, who tapped it past Tars' goalie Drew Trautmann , giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead 2:03 into the contest.   The Florida Tech defense held up well for much of the first half, but with about 10 minutes left, the home team was awarded a free-kick and although Luuk Teurlinx made the initial ch...

David Wilson - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography A game that started as a pitcher’s duel on Friday, turned into a lopsided 8-0 Florida Tech victory in the final game of a three-game series against visiting Rollins. The win gives Florida Tech the series win, as they took two of three games.  The Panthers sent 13 seniors off in grand style, pounding out 12 hits. Reid Neal (2-for-5), Dan Szpik (2-for-5) and Vincenzo Catanza (4-for-4), all had big days for the Panthers.  Rollins starter Brian Auerbach and Panthers hurler Tyler Deel were shutting the opposing offenses down for much of the first half of the game. Florida Tech did threaten in the bottom of the first when Neal and Szpik singled. Neal tried to score on the Szpik hit, but he was nabbed at the plate, a 9-3-2 put out. In the top of the fourth, Chris Corbett got the first hit off Deel, a one out double to left. David Wilson dropped the ball in left, allowing Corbett to go to third. Nick ...

Reid Neal went 3-for-5 in Thursday's loss - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography The Rollins College Tars found their groove in the middle innings on Thursday and went to beat Florida Tech 8-2, in game two of their Sunshine State Conference series at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field. Things got off to a good start for the Panthers as they got to Rollins starter AJ Chacon for two runs in the bottom of the second. It could have been more. David Wilson hit a long fly ball with one out in the inning, that was tracked by left fielder Mike Dolan, who leaped and made a great catch, taking a potential home run away. Chacon ran into more trouble immediately, walking Ryan Sinzenich and Vinny Catanza . Trent Masih then hit a ball to Isaiah Russell at shortstop. He was there to field it, but it went off his glove and the bases were loaded. Chacon then walked Grant McKown , scoring Sinzenich with the first run. Reid Neal grounded out, ending the inning and the Panthers left the...

Nick Capra - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography The Florida Tech Panthers (26-16, 10-6 SSC) earned an important victory over Rollins Wednesday night, in the opening game of a three-game series. Andy Marzheuser pitched eight shutout innings, leading the Panthers to a 5-1 Sunshine State Conference victory. It was quite a pitcher’s duel between Marzheuser and Brad Case for six innings, but the Panthers offense, which was held to two hits for much of the night, finally broke through in the seventh inning.  Dan Szpik got things going with a one out double off the left field wall and Nick Capra plated him with an RBI single. David Wilson flew out, but it was deep enough to move Capra to third and that would be key, because he would score on a wild pitch, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Case would leave after seven strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out 10 and walked only one.  Whit Drennan replaced him on the mound and the Panthers of...

Carson Clough - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography The Florida Tech Panthers secured the second seed in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament, with a 12-8 victory over Rollins (7-7, 2-3 SSC) on Senior Day. Florida Tech finished the regular season with a 7-6 record, including 3-2 in the SSC. Cody Martin finished with four goals to lead the Panthers scoring parade. He had a hat trick with 2:15 left to go in the second quarter. Carson Clough had a goal and two assists, while Nick Wynne and Tyler Covey had a goal and an assist each. Florida Tech goalie  Daniel Flock  made 11 saves, while his counterpart Ty Wedekind made 14 saves in the loss. The Panthers took 45 shots, with 26 on goal, while 19 of the Tars 32 shots were on net. The Panthers never trailed in this contest, but after Logan Sweeney and Ben Abell scored to start the game, Greg Taicher scored back-to-back goals for the Tars, tying the game at two. That was just the beginning of a big day...

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 ...

Rachel Pence - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography The Florida Tech softball team got a much-needed conference win on the road Friday night, beating Rollins College, 3-1. Rachel Pence pitched a complete game, helping the Panthers improve to 17-17 overall and 2-5 in the Sunshine State Conference. Pence allowed one run on five hits, picking up her 11 th win of the season. She struck out six and walked three. The Panthers offense spread out six hits, by six different players. Florida Tech took advantage of the early struggles of Rollins pitcher Sarah Piening. Alexus Smith drew a walk to leadoff the game and went to second on a wild pitch. Hailey Leonard singled, putting runners at the corners. After Leonard stole second and Krista Patterson flew out, Vanessa Rubio ’s fielder’s choice plated the Panthers first run. The Panthers got their second run when Makayla Palmer struck out and Rollins catcher Abigail Sexton threw to second, trying to get Rubio stealing. T...

DeLise Williams (22), Julie McCarthy (33) and Michaela  Gelbaugh (back right)  - Photo Credit: James Ragan The Florida Tech women’s basketball season will roll on, after they upset Rollins 73-70 Wednesday night, in the first round of the Sunshine State Conference tournament. The loss snapped a 12-game win streak for the Tars, who hadn’t lost since January 11, to Nova Southeastern. The Panthers (14-13) were led by Julie McCarthy , who scored 18 points and eight rebounds, including a huge board with 10 seconds left, securing the Panthers upset victory. DeLise Williams finished with 17 points, seven assists and six steals. Gudlau Juliusdottir had 14 points and Tereza Sedlakova capped the Panthers double-digit scorers, with 12. Four Tars scored in double figures, led by Marie Gilbert with 19 points and seven rebounds. Julia Ingler also had a strong game for the Tars, scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds. Carly McLendon and Jasmine Stone each had 10 ...

Jordan Majors - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography The Florida Tech Men’s basketball team had a tough task Saturday, when they traveled to Rollins. For the first 20 minutes, they looked up for it, as they led the Tars 38-32 at the half. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the home team put the pedal to the medal in the second half, scoring 59 points and winning 91-82 in a Sunshine State Conference game. It was the second straight devastating loss in the conference for the Panthers, who dropped a very controversial home game to Saint Leo on Wednesday. “We must be the best first half team in America,” said Florida Tech head coach Billy Mims, in his post-game interview with Jim Mitchell. “But we can’t play 40 minutes of consistency to save or lives.” The Panthers (11-8, 4-6 SSC) were up 12 against Saint Leo and up six at Rollins at the half, but lost both games. Florida Tech got off to a good start Saturday, with Jordan Majors hitting two quick threes. Things sagged...

Tereza Sedlakova - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography Things got off to a good start at Rollins for the Florida Tech women on Saturday, but three turnovers to start the second half started a downward spiral and the Panthers fell, 59-50. They are now 1-5 on the road this season. The Panthers played good defense and scored 14 points in the first quarter, holding a five-point lead as the second quarter got underway. The Panthers kept the momentum at the start of the second quarter, as they went on a 7-0 run in the span of 2:35, while the Tars were 0-for-5 and that translated to a 21-11 lead for the Panthers with 7:07 to go. Things were looking good at that point, but the Panthers went ice cold, as they turned the ball over six times in a stretch of 4:42. Rollins went on a 6-0 run and that grew to a 10-0 run, as Rollins tied it up at 21, as the half came to a close. The Panthers scored seven points in that second stanza. When all was said, and done, the Panthers drou...