LAKELAND, Fla. - Florida Tech struggled to keep pace with high-powered, top-seeded Florida Southern in their SSC Semifinal matchup Thursday evening, and the Panthers fell to the Moccasins, 20-7.
 
Mollie Kaplan recorded four goals, four draw controls and two caused turnovers to lead the Crimson & Gray. Sam Schiano and Alexis Townsend each added a goal and an assist. Schiano also notched four ground balls, three draws and three caused turnovers. 
 
Brittney Embree tallied a goal and Leah Dunn dished out an assist and picked up two caused turnovers. Kailee O'Brien and Jenna Katrina each collected up two ground balls.
 
The Panthers got on the board first off a free position goal by Kaplan just 1:12 into the game. FSC quickly responded with seven unanswered goals in a span of 7:34.
 
A great ride by Dunn and Townsend on the FSC goalie got Tech back the ball following a turnover on the offensive end. The effort to a score by Schiano, which made it a 7-2 game with 18:18 left in the first half. 
 
A 4-0 run by the Mocs pushed their lead to 11-2 with 11:05 to go before halftime. Schiano then found Townsend for a fast break goal with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half. 
 
However, the Mocs closed the half with three straight goals and went into the break with a 14-3 advantage.
 
Kaplan scores the first three goals of the second half for the Panthers, her final coming off an assist from Dunn to make the score 17-6. 
 
Embree put in the final goal for Tech this season, as she blew by the defense and fired a shot into net with 6:23 to go. The Mocs added two more goals before the final buzzer and advanced to another SSC Championship game. 
 
The loss concludes the season for the Florida Tech women's lacrosse team. The program will now say good bye to five amazing seniors, Leah Dunn, Brittney Embree, Jenna Katrina, Cristina Marani and Sam Schiano. 
 
The Panthers will now set their sights on the 2020 season.
 
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