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By Space Coast Daily // November 18, 2024
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The top-seeded Florida Tech women’s soccer team was crowned Sunshine State Conference champions for the second time in program history, after a hard-fought match with third-seeded Nova Southeastern. The Panthers took a scoreless tie into overtime, ultimately winning the championship 5-4 on penalties.
The Panthers began the match with four shots in the first 10 minutes, forcing the Sharks’ keeper to make an early save.
In the 23rd minute, Rebecca Storr looked to put Tech on the board with a shot, but another save from the NSU keeper kept the match scoreless.
Both teams settled in and went back and forth with possession for the next few minutes. Sofia Posner took a crack and the goal in the 38th minute, but her shot was punched away safely.
The Panthers sent a barrage towards the Sharks’ goal in the final five minutes of the half, but none found the back of the net and the teams went into halftime tied 0-0.
Tech continued to apply the pressure on the offensive end to begin the second half with five shots, but none on target.
NSU broke away from the defense in the 68th minute, but the shot from Genesis Hernandez sailed harmlessly over the goal.
A Panther corner kick in the 80th minute provided an opportunity for Alice Mottershead, but her shot went just over the crossbar to keep the teams knotted.
Five minute later, the Sharks looked to score but Kaitlin Sinkler came up with a big save to send the teams into overtime.
Neither team could get the offense going in the first overtime period. Savannah Oxley got the lone shot off in the 10 minutes, but it was off target.
The Panthers were able to put four more shots up in the second overtime, forcing NSU’s keeper to make two saves, but none found the back of the net and the teams went into a penalty shootout.
Both teams converted their first four penalties to tie the shootout at 4-4. Tech’s penalties were taken in order by Marta Llopis, Mottershead, Oxley, and Daniela Tobon.
Hallla Helgadottir converted the fifth penalty for the Panthers, forcing the Sharks to convert their attempt or lose.
Sinkler came up with a tremendous diving save into the top right corner of the goal to secure the championship victory.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
Florida Tech moves to 11-14-3 all-time against Nova Southeastern, including 6-7-2 all-time at home against the Sharks.
With the win today, the Panthers have secure their second SSC championship in program history (2017).
Tech has become the sixth program in SSC women’s soccer history to win the regular season title outright and the conference tournament in the same season.
UP NEXT: With the conference championship victory, the Panthers have earned the automatic qualifier in the NCAA Tournament. Tech awaits the selection show to determine seeding.
The selection show is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 18 on NCAA.com.
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