ALLENDALE, Michigan. (Women's Soccer) – A pair of second half goals by sophomore Keira McCarthy helped the Florida Tech women's soccer team (7-3) overcome a one goal halftime deficit to knock off No. 1 Grand Valley State (9-1-1) by a score of 2-1 Wednesday night at the GVSU Soccer Field.   
 
The Panthers' victory snapped a 34-game win streak for the Lakers, who are the three-time defending National Champions (2013-15).
 
"I'm very happy for this group of girls and their performance tonight against the best team in the country," stated head coach Dustin Smith. "Our conference teams prepare us for anything and everything we could've possibly encountered tonight. Without playing the type of schedule we have leading up to this game I don't think we would have had the resolve to come back and win."
 
The scoring opened when Kendra Stauffer got away from the Panther defense in the 31st minute and went one-on-one with Karlyn Prisco, who made the save. However, the rebound ricocheted off Lauren Bolhuis, who was sprinting in to help, and the ball went into the net to hand GVSU a 1-0 edge. The score would remain the same as the teams went into halftime.
 
In the 57th minute, Aubri Williamson beat her defender down the right sideline and crossed the ball over to McCarthy who knocked it past GVSU goalkeeper Jennifer Steinaway for her seventh goal of the year and tie the game at 1-1. It was the first goal allowed by the Lakers' at home this season.
 
FIT's goal seemed the wake up the top-ranked team in the nation as they picked up the offensive pressure and continued to earn corner kicks. However, Prisco and the Panther defense were up to the challenge and continued to turn away the Lakers' attempts.
 
With 25 minutes left in the second half, Bolhuis made up for her miscue earlier in the game with a veteran defensive play. The Rochester Hills, Michigan native stood her ground on the left post on a corner kick and played a Sara Stevens' scoring opportunity off the goal line to keep the game even.
 
Florida Tech's game winner came in the 87th minute when McCarthy collected a poor clearance by Steinaway and finished it through the goalkeeper's hands into the back of the net to give the Panthers a 2-1 advantage.
 
With little time left, FIT had no trouble running out the remainder of the clock and earning the impressive victory, as GVSU was handed its first home loss since Oct. 17, 2014.

Williamson led Florida Tech with five shots and three shots on goal, while McCarthy scored her two goals on three shots. In the Panthers' net, Prisco made six saves and improved her season mark to 7-3 with the victory. Her counterpart, Steinaway, made seven saves in the loss as she fell to 9-1-1.

"I want to say everyone had huge hearts tonight, especially Lauren Bolhuis who overcame tremendous adversity after the own goal in the first half," Smith said. "Our hearts and prayers are with everyone back home and we hope we could've provided a little happiness in a time of chaos with the impending Hurricane."
 
Due to the looming danger of Hurricane Matthew, all athletic events this weekend are being canceled, including the women's soccer match against Embry-Riddle on Saturday, Oct. 8. The Panthers' next game is scheduled for Oct. 12 at Nova Southeastern at 7 p.m. ET in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.