WINGATE, NC – The test was always going to be a difficult one for Florida Tech men's lacrosse team on Saturday afternoon, facing the #5 ranked team in the nation on the road. While the Panthers started with a game effort, a 6-0 Wingate run over an 8:01 span of the second and third quarters ultimately allowed the Bulldogs to pull away with a 17-9 victory.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final:  RV Florida Tech 9, #5 Wingate 17
Records: RV Florida Tech (1-3, 0-0 SSC) | #5 Wingate (3-0, 0-0 SAC)
Locations: Irwin Belk Stadium | Wingate, NC

FIRST QUARTER: 

• Joe Coveleski gave Tech the lead 96 seconds into the game.
• The Bulldogs drew level thanks to a rebound from Sam Goss at the 9:15 mark.
• Joey Moran gave Wingate their first lead at 4:33 on a close-range finish.
• Aidan Addison tallied his first goal as a Panther with 2:52 to go in the quarter on a shot from distance to tie the game.
• Just under a minute, Sean Clark put the Bulldogs back in front.
• Goss added his second of the quarter with 1:12 to go in the period.
• Wingate increased their lead to three following a Panther penalty on Clark's second with 37 seconds remaining.

SECOND QUARTER: 

• Coveleski broke Tech's scoring drought 2:08 into the quarter with a run at goal and withstanding contact that drew a penalty to make it 5-3.
• Thomas Strong scored just after the penalty expired to bring the Panthers within 5-4 at the 11:43 mark.
• The Bulldogs responded 48 seconds later through Vinny Butrico.
• Strong would grab his second of the quarter, this time from the wing, to make it 6-5 at 9:29.
• Moran pushed WU's lead back to two goals on his second of the half at 6:46.
• Butrico's second of the quarter restored the Bulldog advantage to three 41 seconds later.
• Following a Wingate timeout, Clark recorded his third goal to put the Crimson and Gray behind by four.
• Kyle Spence put the Bulldogs ahead by five at the 1:34 mark.
• Jaxon Grant capped WU's six-goal frame with a tally with 19 seconds remaining to give Wingate an 11-5 advantage at the intermission.

THIRD QUARTER: 

• 1:15 into the second half, Moran completed his hat trick to put the Bulldogs ahead by seven.
• Andrew Walenty ended Tech's nearly 20-minute goal drought with 5:37 left in the quarter as he took Jack Cornwell's feed went behind his screen and fired with his body taking him away from the goal cut to the deficit to 12-6.
• Gary Lozito closed the quarter with a man-up marker with 11 seconds remaining to bring Florida Tech within 12-7 going to the fourth.

FOURTH QUARTER: 

• Moran's solo effort just shy of five minutes into the period made it 13-7 to Wingate.
• 34 seconds later, Moran finished a feed from Goss for his fifth of the day and give the Bulldogs a seven-goal lead.
• The Crimson and Gray responded just over a minute later with a transition goal as Cornwell finished a feed from Jax Francisco to cut the deficit to 14-8 with 8:22 remaining.
• Moran recorded his sixth goal of the game with 6:39 remaining on a shot from distance to give WU a 15-8 advantage.
• Matt Papach added his name to the score sheet with 5:38 to go.
• Kyle Spence posted his second of the day 57 seconds later.
• Danny Richmond got on the board as a time expired with a bouncing shot that beat Bulldog keeper Quad Williams.

NOTABLE PANTHERS: 

• Joe Coveleski led the Panthers with three points thanks to two goals and an assist.
• Thomas Strong provided two goals, bringing his total to four for the season.
• Gary Lozito and Aidan Addison each tallied one goal. 
• Jack Cornwell tacked two points on one goal and one assist 
• Danny Richmond provided a goal and an assist.
• Colin Olson's helper on Richmond's goal at the final buzzer was his first point of the season.
• Jayden Griggs was the lone Panther with multiple Panther caused turnovers (2), while 10 others had one.
• JR Radun led Tech in groundballs gathered on the day with seven.
• Carter Batt went 6-of-16 at the X, while Shale Saeger was 2-of-13.
• Jax Francisco recorded 12 saves and a .414 save percentage.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• Wingate outshot Florida Tech 43-35 with 29 on goal against Tech's 20.
• The Panthers won the turnover battle (16-17) and causing more turnovers (12-11), while the Bulldogs gathered more ground balls (47-27).
• Florida Tech went 19-of-23 on clears, while Wingate went 21-of-22.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Panthers are now 0-5 all-time against Wingate.
• Aidan Addison's goal was his first of his Florida Tech career.
• Jack Cornwell's assist was his first career assist. 
• JR Radun's 7 groundballs are a career high.

 
UP NEXT: Florida Tech returns to action tomorrow at Irwin Belk Stadium for a neutral site matchup against Lees-McRae. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 12 P.M.
For the latest news, updates and information on the Florida Tech men's lacrosse team, visit FloridaTechSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Panthers news by following Florida Tech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.