Florida Tech Dominates Top Seed Barry to Capture First SSC Tournament Championship

Adam Lowenstein November 7, 2022

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. — In a physical match between the #1 and #2 seeds of the tournament, the Panthers fought for 90 minutes to defeat Barry 4-1. For the first time in Florida Tech men’s soccer program history, the Sunshine State Conference tournament trophy is coming back to Melbourne.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #7 Florida Tech 4, #23 Barry 1
Records: #7 Florida Tech (10-0-6, 6-0-5 SSC) | #23 Barry (10-2-4, 6-1-4 SSC)
Locations: Buccaneer Soccer Field | Miami Shores, Fla.

STATS OF THE MATCH:

Following Thursday’s semi-final win over Tampa, Tech brought the momentum to Miami.
The Panthers quieted the Barry crowd early in the 4^th minute of play when Hugo Catherine was able to easily find the back of the net to give Tech a 1-0 lead.
Barry had an opportunity to score in the 31^st minute of the game, but the Sunshine State Defensive Player of the Year Luis Tovar Romero was able to come up with the save to keep the Buccaneers off the board.
At the half, Tech led 1-0.
Barry came out of the second half looking to tie things up.
In the 48^th minute of play, Tech was awarded with a penalty kick.
Soeren Nygaard was able to successfully convert the penalty kick and the Panthers were quickly ahead 2-0.
In the 56^th minute, Iker Berruezo scored to close the gap and the score was now 2-1.
The Panthers were able to respond in the 77^th minute when Jack Edwards found Soeren Nygaard for the goal.
At the 78^th minute of the game, Barry’s Nicolas Villalobos fired off a shot, but Tovar Romero came up with a huge save for the Panthers
With 10 minutes left of play, Tech wasn’t done scoring yet.
With two minutes left of play, Nygaard sent a pass to Julen Lafuente for another Panther goal.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

Florida Tech is now 18-22-4 all- time against Barry.
The last win over Barry was Sept. 28. 2019 and last win at Barry was Oct. 13, 2018.
This is the fourth-all time meeting between the teams in the SSC Tournament with all of them being held at Barry.
Tech had three different goal scorers.
Four goals are the most the Panthers have scored this season.
Catherine scored his second goal, while Lafuente scored his third goal.
Nygaard his fourth goal of the year and recorded his 5^th assist and Edwards picked up his third assist on the season.
Following the conclusion of the game, Julen Lafuente, Jacopo Ghezzi, Soeren Nygaard, Franco Sala Grigioni, and Jack Edwards were named to the SSC All-Tournament Team for their exception play over the three rounds.
Edwards was also named the Most Valuable Player in the SSC Tournament.