LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 6 Florida Tech women's lacrosse team fell to No. 3 Florida Southern, 19-10, in the NCAA Division II South Regional Championship Saturday at Moccasin Field.
 
The game was back-and-fourth throughout the first 44 minutes of game time but FSC gained the momentum midway through the second half and then ran away with the victory.
 
It's the second year in a row that the Panthers' (17-3) season ends at the hands of the Moccasins (20-1) in the NCAA quarterfinals. FIT is now 2-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, while FSC moves on to its third straight final four appearance.

A pair of goals by Shannon Gilfedder kicked off the scoring and gave the Mocs a 2-0 lead with 23:43 left in the first half. 
 
A fast break goal by Mary Gormley cut the Panthers' deficit to one but Emily Santoli found the back of the net to give FSC a 3-1 edge with 19:01 to go in the frame. 
 
Caroline Dunleavy's goal off an assist from Leah Dunn at the 14:55 mark ignited a 4-1 run by the Panthers that gave them their first lead of the game, 5-4. Lauren Tybor was instrumental during the spurt as she tallied two goals and assisted Dunn for FIT's fifth goal with 7:27 left in the half.
 
Gilfedder's man-up goal evened the score at 5-5, then Marina Jozokos gave FSC back the lead with 3:37 to go. 
 
Sam Schiano tied the score at 6-6 on her free position attempt with just over a minute to go before halftime. 
 
Another extra-man goal by Gilfedder gave the Mocs a 7-6 advantage just 36 seconds into the second half. 
 
The Panthers regained the lead, 8-7, with 26:03 to go following back-to-back goals by Dunn and Dunleavy over a 35 second span.
 
After consecutive goals by FSC, Aleah Fjelstad's free position conversion tied the game at 9-9 with 21:07 remaining.
 
Goals by Santoli and Gilfedder, her fifth of the game, put the Mocs ahead 11-9. Dunleavy completed her hat trick, and cut the Panthers' deficit to one, with 16:04 left in the clock. 
 
However, from there Florida Southern shut down FIT and went on to score eight unanswered goals over the final 15:13 of game time to earn its third consecutive South Regional Championship. 
 
Senior Caroline Dunleavy led the Crimson & Gray with three goals while Tybor and Dunn contributed two goals and an assist apiece. Tybor, the 2018 Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year, also ended with five draw controls, three ground balls and three caused turnovers.
 
Gormley ended with a goal and an assist and Schiano scored one goal in addition to collecting two draw controls. Olivia Going tied a game-high with three caused turnovers.
 
Stephanie Stuart was impressive in the contest and made 15 saves in her final time donning the crimson and gray.
 
Panthers lose seven seniors who helped build the program from a first-year team in 2015 to a national powerhouse and perennial Top-5 squad in four years. 
 
Several of the departing Panthers left their mark in the program record book over their time at Florida Tech.
 
Sara Grenier concluded her career as the women's lacrosse team's all-time leader in points (270) and goals (231). The Oakland, Maine product holds the Top-3 totals for goals in a season with 58 in 2017, 60 in 2015 and 69 this season. The 2017-18 Florida Tech Female Athlete of the Year's 54 free position goals, including her 14 this season, are also records.
 
Her partner on the attack unit, Dunleavy finished up her four years at second all-time in points (260) and goals (169). She is the program's leader in career assists with 91. The Annapolis, Maryland native's 41 assists and 2.05 assists per game this season are also school-records.
 
Grenier and Dunleavy are the only Panthers in program history to surpass the 200-point mark.
 
Gormley is fourth all-time in career points with 158 on 93 goals and 65 assists. Her 65 assists rank second behind Dunleavy's total. A product of Denver, Colorado, Gormley is also the all-time leader in draw controls with 193 and is second in career ground balls at 164.
 
Allie Wood finished up her career at No. 5 in the Panther record book in ground balls (122) and No. 6 in caused turnovers (65).
 
Haley Heggblod is second all-time in caused turnovers with 83 while her 120 ground balls are sixth in the team's career rankings.
 
Kelly Sullivan played in 30 games over her FIT career, recording 18 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers, including four this season.
 
Finally, Stuart concluded her illustrious career in goal with 504 saves, including 144 this season, and 48 wins over four years.
 
Dunleavy, Gormley, Grenier, Stuart and Wood started all 71 games in the program's history while Heggblod has 69 starts under her belt.

Despite the major departures, the future is bright for the Crimson & Gray. The Panthers return six of their nine top scorers, and two of their top defenders, as well as eight players who started and played significant roles on the 2018 team. 

Head coach Corinne Desrosiers, assistant coach Taylor Marshall and the rest of the women's lacrosse team will now turn their attention to the 2019 season. Fans can stay up to date with the Panthers on the team's page at FloridaTechSports.com.