Panthers Dethrone the Royals

MELBOURNE, Fla. (Women’s Soccer) – Those who stuck around for the full homecoming
weekend were able to see the Florida Tech Panthers push their record to 9-4-1 overall with a 3-1 win against the Royals of Warner Southern College in
Melbourne, Fla. on Sunday. In addition, it was senior day for the women’s soccer team so senior goalkeepers Erica Wales and Cassie Gonyer only allowed one goal on
the day while midfielder Claira
Carlisle saw extensive time in the midfield.   It was freshman midfielder Matilda Östergaard, however, who
got things started with her second goal of the season in the 30th minute of the match. She was in the box and rifled a shot to the bottom right corner of
the goal. The Royal goalkeeper stopped it, but the only problem was that she was inside the goal.   Just over a minute after Östergaard’s goal,
sophomore forward Teresa
Brantley put her seventh goal of the season past Julia Valentine, the Warner Southern goalkeeper. Just 30 minutes into the match, the Panthers
were up 2-0.   At the half, both teams made the switch at goalkeeper. Head coach Fidgi Haig put Gonyer in goal in honor of senior day while Warner Southern coach Kurt
Bienias simply wasn’t comfortable with Valentine. Senior goalkeeper Cyndee Cason started the second half in goal for the Royals.   In the 78th minute
of the match, Jackie Sonricker of the Royals took a shot from 40 yards out that had a tricky spin on it for Warner Southern’s only goal of the match.
  The Panthers were unfazed and in the 86th minute put in their third goal of the match. Freshman defender DeeDee Newland, dribbled the ball down
the right side right next to the goal. She took the shot from the side and it bounced over Cason right in front of the open net. Freshman midfielder
Alyssa Esposito
finished the play with a tap in to put the match out of reach.   Florida Tech showed strong defense throughout the entire match, but just as
impressive was the Panther offense. They rarely lost possession, made crisp passes the entire day, and showed some versatility in their scoring.   The
Panthers will see their next action in a conference match against NovaSoutheasternUniversity in Melbourne, Fla. at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

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