Tech Falls 5-1 Against SSC Foe Florida Southern
LAKELAND, Fla. – Patrik Dandanell had the Moccasins’ first hat trick in three years and Jonathan Streets had three assists to lead Florida Southern to a
6-1 win Wednesday night over Florida Tech.
Dandanell scored two of his three goals in the first nine minutes of the match, giving the Mocs (6-2, 1-1) a 2-0 lead. Both were off corner kicks from
Streets. The first came just 5:30 into the game when Dandanell rocketed a mid-air, sideways volley at the near post for his fourth goal of the season. Just
over three minutes later he scored again after Emil Eliasson sent another corner from Streets back across the box for a shot from close range.
Dandanell completed his hat trick seven minutes into the second half in softer fashion. Again it was Streets who fed him the ball, setting up a lob shot
from the right side of the box for the final goal of the night. It was the first hat trick for a Moccasin since Asa Pepia scored three times against Bryant
College in the first game of the 2002 season. He was only inches away from a fourth goal when he hammered a shot off the cross bar from the top of the box
in the 55th minute. He was removed shortly after with the Mocs holding a 6-1 lead.
The Moccasins also got first-half goals from Eliasson, Pepia and Austin Felice to take a 5-1 lead at halftime. Eliasson’s goal in the 19th minute put the
Mocs ahead 3-0 and was their third straight off a corner kick after the ball was unsuccessfully cleared. Pepia’s goal also came on a set piece, a difficult
running header flicked to the back post on a free kick by Andrew Falcon.
Florida Tech (1-4-1, 0-2) broke up the shutout with 1:15 remaining before halftime when senior forward Mohammed Al-Sharif (Jeddah, Suadi Arabia) was taken
down in the box and converted the ensuing penalty kick to grab his second goal on the season.
Florida Southern quickly answered though with two quick passes by Pepia and Falcon leading to a goal by Austin Felice just 22 seconds later. The assist
gave Pepia three points in the match and pulled him within three points of Florida Southern’s career scoring record held by Alan Grossman since 1974.
Clint Harris and Matt Ward split the match in goal for the Moccasins with each making two saves. Both of Ward’s saves came on hard liners from outside the
box and defender Kevin Olmstead blocked another one in the second half by Don Spielman from 10 yards away.
Florida Southern returns to action Saturday night at 7:00 when it hosts top-ranked Lynn University. Florida Tech will play again on Saturday as well,
hosting the University of Tampa at 4:00.
