MELBOURNE, Fla. – Down by one with 1:10 left on the clock, the Panthers score twice, including the final shot with 10 seconds remaining. Jakop Terpak grabbed the ball from behind the opposing net, made a couple of moves, and bounced the ball into the net while falling to the ground for a miraculous game-winner.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final:  Florida Tech 10, No. 17 Colorado Mesa 9
Records: Florida Tech (4-4, 0-0 SSC) | Colorado Mesa (4-2, 2-0 RMAC)
Locations: Rick Stottler Field | Melbourne, Fla.

FIRST QUARTER: 

• Colorado Mesa caused a turnover on the first Florida Tech possession, allowing the Mavericks to take a 1-0 lead in the first minute of the game.
• Jax Francisco blocked two Maverick shots after the goal, keeping the Panthers within reach.
• Tech responded by netting three unanswered goals. Andrew Walenty received a pass from Danny Richmond for the score, tying the game at one apiece. Joe Coveleski grabbed the Panthers' first lead on his own the following possession.
• The third goal was generated by a Steve Ulrich-caused turnover in which he ran the distance of the field, striking the ball past the Mavericks keeper.
• At 6:48, Colorado Mesa ended Tech's run of goals when the Maverick's Connor Jenson placed one into the net.
• Despite a tight window, Terpak found Thomas Strong at the post for the feed. Strong slipped the ball into the net, regaining the Panthers' two-point lead, heading into the second quarter.

SECOND QUARTER: 

• Drawing within one score, Colorado Mesa was the first on the board for the second consecutive quarter. Tech bounced back quickly with a goal a minute and a half later by Coveleski.
• The game turned around for the Mavericks in the second quarter. They went on their own 3-0 run midway through the quarter, giving them a 6-5 advantage with 4:27 left in the half.

 THIRD QUARTER: 

• Defense was at a premium in the third quarter. Tech caused two turnovers, and Francisco made three more saves.
• Both teams scored one goal close to each other at 6:53 and 6:10. Robert McNamara cashed in on the Panther's goal off a Walenty assist.
• The Mavericks lead 7-6 with 15 minutes remaining in the game.

FOURTH QUARTER: 

• Braden Hartlieb dislodged the ball from Colorado Mesa's Carson Points. Hartlieb sprinted most of the field before tossing it to Carson Mann, who ripped his first career goal.
• Soon after, Shale Saeger won the faceoff and dished it to Coveleski, who nailed his third goal of the night just eight seconds after Mann's goal. Tech grabbed the 8-7 with 11:16 on the clock.
• Almost five minutes passed before the next goal as Tech caused a turnover and blocked Maverick's shot.
• However, Colorado Mesa finally pushed through with the tying goal from JJ Brummett.
• Despite two stellar saves from Francisco, the Mavericks got one past the Panthers' keeper, reclaiming the lead at 9-8.
• The Mavericks gave the Panthers life when the Maverick's Eli Bibler was called for pushing, creating an extra-man opportunity. Coveleski capitalized on the chance from a Rob Gadomski dime.
• In a crucial faceoff battle, Brian Barlotta swiped the ball away from Maverick players, retrieving the ground ball and potentially the final possession. As time ticked away, Terpak came around the left post of the goal and, while being hit, bounced the ball, fooling the Colorado Mesa keeper and finding the back of the net, securing the Panthers' 10-9 victory.

NOTABLE PANTHERS: 

• Joe Coveleski scored four goals on five shots, leading the team in goals and points.
• Andrew Walenty and Jakop Terpak tallied a goal and an assist.
• Jax Francisco had another double-digit save night, with 16 doing so in all but one game this season. He also led the team in groundballs (5).
• Shale Saeger was huge down the stretch, winning four of his eight faceoffs, including the final one, which led to the game-winning goal.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• Florida Tech led in saves (16-9)
• Colorado Meas had the advantage in shots (34-23) and groundballs (30-24)
• The Panthers went 22-23 on clears, while the Mavericks went 20-21.
• Tech capitalized on the one extra-man opportunity of the game.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Tech tied the all-time record at 2-2 with their win, all being played in Melbourne.
• It's the Panthers' first win against a ranked non-conference opponent since March 23, 2022, also against Colorado Mesa (No. 20)
• Carson Mann netted his first career goal, and Steve Ulrichs scored his first as a Panther.

 
UP NEXT: Florida Tech will travel across the state to play No. 1 Tampa on Saturday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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