MELBOURNE, Fla. – A monstrous performance from Florida Tech goalkeeper Jax Francisco, led the way to a Panthers 11-8 victory over Alabama-Huntsville. Despite 37 shots and 27 on-target, the Chargers could only muster eight goals against the Panthers. Francisco tied a career-high 19 saves, including a massive 11 in the second half.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final:  Florida Tech 11, Alabama-Huntsville 8
Records: Florida Tech (3-4, 0-0 SSC) | Alabama-Huntsville (1-8, 0-0 PBC)
Locations: Rick Stottler Field | Melbourne, Fla.

FIRST QUARTER: 

• The Chargers got on the board first after three minutes of game action.
• However, Alabama-Huntsville was down a man due to an illegal body check a minute later, opening up an opportunity for Joe Coveleski to place a ball into the back of the net at 10:18.
• A few minutes later, Tech grabbed their first lead on a Gaven Stecher goal with Thomas Strong's assistance. But the Chargers responded the next possession, tying the game a two apiece with 6:16 left in the first quarter.
• Alabama Huntsville regained the advantage, heading into the second quarter up 3-2. The Chargers threatened multiple times, but Tech's Jax Francisco tallied four saves following the third goal.

SECOND QUARTER: 

• Early in the second, Derek Duplechin netted two goals at 13:31 and 11:35, giving the Panthers a 4-3 edge, which Tech would keep for the rest of the game. A Francisco save set up the second goal save.
• The Panthers scored on back-to-back possessions midway through the quarter, first by Jakob Terpak and the second by Drew Haffner.
• Alabama-Huntsville added one goal to their total at the 6:30 mark, but Tech's defense, Francisco, shut them down from that point on in the second.
• Coveleski wanted one more before the half ended, scoring in the final second off a stellar pass from Terpak. The Panthers led at half 7-4.

 THIRD QUARTER: 

• The Chargers' keeper made two big saves, hoping to get the Chargers' offense rolling, but Francisco had other plans. Around the 12-minute mark, he made two straight critical saves of his own.
• Both teams held the other off the scoreboard for over 12 minutes of the second half. Alabama-Huntsville ended the drought at 3:33 with a goal by Pete Fabrizio.
• Francisco blocked one more shot for his fifth of the quarter as the Panthers held onto the 7-5 edge.

FOURTH QUARTER: 

• An illegal body check by the Panthers at the end of the third quarter and an unnecessary roughness to start the fourth had Tech down two men to start the fourth quarter. This did not face the Panthers or Francisco as he stepped in front of three shots-on-goal, preventing the Chargers from scoring.
• The three saves sparked a goal from Terpak, who Thomas Strong assisted for the 8-5 lead.
• Two more saves from Francisco and a Coveleski hat-trick increased the Panther's lead to four points.
• The Chargers tried to make a comeback, winning three consecutive face-offs and finding the net three times in five possessions, two by Makai Hillmon.
• Each team netted one more goal each in the final four minutes and the Panthers left with the 11-8 victory.

NOTABLE PANTHERS: 

• Jax Francisco tied his career high, making 19 saves while only allowing eight goals. He also grabbed four groundballs.
• Joe Coveleski registers his first hat-trick of the season.
• Jakob Terpak tallied a game-high five points on two goals and three assists.
• Three Panthers recorded three points, including Coveleski, Thomas Strong, and Gavin Stecher.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• Florida Tech led in saves (19-12) and groundballs (27-26)
• Alabama-Huntsville had the advantage in shots (37-36) and turnovers (19-20)
• The Panthers went 21-23 on clears, while the Chargers went 18-23.
• Tech capitalized on one extra-man opportunity.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• In the first-ever meeting between the two schools, Tech earned the victory
• Terpak's three assists moved him into the program's top-10 in the category.

 
UP NEXT: Florida Tech is right back on Rick Stottler Field, hosting No. 13 Colorado Mesa on Tuesday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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