MELBOURNE, Fla. – A game roller coaster ended in the favor of Florida Tech in a 14-12 win over No. 17 Rollins. The Panthers began up 5-0 before being down 11-9 near the end of the third quarter for Tech to score five of the last six goals for the victory.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Tech 14, No. 17 Rollins 12
Records: Florida Tech (2-3, 0-0 SSC) | No. 17 Rollins (1-2, 0-0 SSC)
Locations: Rick Stottler Field | Melbourne, Fla.

FIRST QUARTER: 

• The Panthers opened the scoring 35 seconds after Phoebe Hurt grabbed the draw control. Gillian Craig tallied her first of many goals on the afternoon.
• Less than a minute later, Clare McGuire, in her first career start, scooped up the draw control, leading to a Caroline Finn goal on a Sophia Scichilone pass.
• The duo of Scichilone and Finn did not stop there as they quickly found the net again at the 13:03 mark, 30 seconds following their last goal. Tech had a 3-0 advantage in less than two minutes played.
• Julie Ondria not only recorded her first career draw control and the fourth consecutive for the Panthers. Following two close shots, Finn and Scichilone reappeared, giving Tech a 4-0 edge.
• A Rollins turnover helped Scichilone have the spotlight, netting the Panthers' fifth goal. Michaela Wittman created the opportunity for the junior.
• Despite the early deficit, the Tars battled back, finding the back of the net three straight times to end the first quarter down 5-3.

 SECOND QUARTER: 

• Rollins used their momentum from the first to start on the right foot in the second, taking the 8-5 lead of five consecutive goals with 6:03 on the clock.
• Ella Brophy and Scichilone's assist turned the game back in the Panther's favor.
• The Tars responded for a 9-6 lead; however, this lit a fire under Craig, who scored a hat trick in three minutes, tying the game at nine apiece at the half. Scichilone added another assist, and Hurt created the other two.

THIRD QUARTER: 

• The twists and turns continued in the third quarter. Rollins regained the lead on two scores.
• When the game could have gotten away from the Panthers, Bridget Robinson blocked two Tars' shots, keeping the game at 11-9.
• Scichilone rewarded her goalie by cashing in at 2:52, drawing closer to the Tars.
• Tech tied the game for the final 15 minutes when Hurt capitalized on a free-position opportunity.

 FOURTH QUARTER: 

• Tech finished the game as it began by dominating the attacking zone. Forty seconds into the final quarter, Scichilone registered a hat-trick for the 12-11 lead.
• Despite two more critical saves by Robinson, Rollins leveled the game at 12-12 with 6:35 remaining. It would be the last time the Tars saw the net.
• Robinson made another save directly leading to Finn's game-winning goal.
• Three additional saves from Robinson sealed the victory because the Panthers could kill the rest of the clock.
• For good measure, Craig tapped in her fifth goal and Scichilone earned her sixth assist in the last second of the game.

 
NOTABLE PANTHERS: 

• Gillian Craig recorded a game-high and career-high five goals on six shots on goal.
• Sophia Scichilone tallied nine points with three goals and six assists. It's the most assists for the junior since last season at the end of March.
• Caroline Finn registered her second consecutive first-quarter hat trick on her way to four goals.
• Clare McGuire had a game-high eight draw controls in her first career start.
• Bridget Robinson had her best game of the season, saving 11 Rollins' shots for her first win as a Panther.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• Rollins ended with more shots (29-24), clears (13-13), and groundballs (12-7).
• Tech had the advantage in saves (11) and draw controls (18-11)
• The Panthers were 12-16 on the clears, while the Bears were 13-13.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Florida Tech moves to 5-8 all-time and 3-3 at home against Rollins.
• It was the second non-conference meeting between teams (last year was the first) and the first in Melbourne.
• Tech's first win against a ranked SSC opponent since defeating Rollins 13-10 on April 23, 2022.
• Scichilone passed Leah Dunn and Mollie Kaplan for seventh in program history for career points. She is one point away from sixth.

UP NEXT: The Panthers remain at home for a fight against Colorado Mesa on Thursday, February 27, at 7 p.m. ET.
 
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