DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Saturday afternoon saw Sunshine State Conference lacrosse at its best: plenty of goals, skill, physicality, great goaltending, and late tension. Both teams answered each other's runs throughout the game and as the clock wound down, it became the classic scenario of next goal wins. Unfortunately, #16 Embry-Riddle was the team that found that next goal, scoring twice in the final 2:30 to hold off Florida Tech, 12-10.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final:  RV Florida Tech 10, No. 16 Embry-Riddle 12
Records: RV Florida Tech (4-6, 0-2 SSC) | No. 16 Embry-Riddle (7-3, 3-0 SSC)
Locations: Embry-Riddle Lacrosse Field | Daytona Beach, Fla.

FIRST QUARTER: 

• Thomas Strong gave Tech the lead 1:09 into the game as he converted a feed from Jakob Terpak.
• Just 35 seconds later, Strong took a pass from Terpak, went around his screen and fired home to double the Crimson and Gray advantage.
• Jack Cornwell continued the strong start at 11:38 as he found the back of the net after beating three Eagle defenders.
• Embry-Riddle answered 40 seconds later through Pete Abbes for their first goal of the day.
• Joe Anderson's shot through traffic from the high slot brought Embry-Riddle within 3-2 at 8:36.
• The Eagles won the ensuing faceoff and needed just 41 seconds from there to equalize, doing so on Abbes' hard shot from the left side.
• Leo Mileto completed Embry-Riddle's mini-turnaround by cashing in at 6:57.
• Abbes got his first quarter hat trick just 46 seconds later.
• The Eagle run continued at 4:42 following a Panther timeout as Abbes converted for the fourth time in the opening quarter.

SECOND QUARTER: 

• Shale Seager started the quarter by breaking Florida Tech's scoring drought by doing plenty of grit work to ultimately win the faceoff and score the first goal of his collegiate career.
• Nearly three minutes later, Terpak took a pass near midfield, went on a run and then buried his ninth goal of the season to bring the Panthers within one.
• Cornwell went vertical to bring the Crimson and Gray level at 9:42.
• The Eagles retook the lead at 5:17 through Tim Keefe.
• Just over a minute and a half later, Keefe added to his tally, doing so this time with a man up.

 
THIRD QUARTER: 

• After winning the second half's opening faceoff, Embry-Riddle increased their lead back to three after 41 seconds thanks to Trey Dring.
• Drew Haffner got one back at 11:40 thanks to a downhill drive.
• Brooks Van Esselstyn withstood heavy contact on a wraparound to make it a 9-8 game at the 8:44 mark.
• Following an Eagle timeout, Seager won the faceoff and thanks to some good ball movement, Gavin Stecher cashed in to tie the game again at 7:30 mark.

 
FOURTH QUARTER: 

• Keefe's third of the day, finishing a Dring pass from behind the net, at 10:05 put Embry-Riddle back in front.
• With time starting to run out, Cornwell's fantastic footwork and shot tied the game at 2:48, giving him his second hat trick of the season.
• The Eagles won the ensuing faceoff and needed just 19 seconds to re-take the lead through Lucas Anthony.
• Tech won the ensuing faceoff through Bobby Canaway but was unable to get a shot on goal before a turnover allowed Embry-Riddle to burn most of the remaining 1:30.
• With Florida Tech chasing in the final seconds to get the ball back for one more chance to tie, Christian Hofer put the game away with a goal with 11 seconds remaining.

NOTABLE PANTHERS: 

• Jack Cornwell's second hat trick of his freshman season led the Panthers.
• Thomas Strong had his fourth multi-goal of the campaign, giving him 10 in total for the season.
• Jakob Terpak provided a goal and an assist, the fourth straight game in which he's done so.
• Brooks Van Esselstyn's goal gives him nine points for the season, surpassing his total from 2024.
• Drew Haffner's goal was the fifth of his sophomore season.
• Gavin Stecher's goal brings his points for the season to 11, a new career high.
• Brian Barlotta, Derek Duplechin, Garrett Gmeiner, JR Radun and Terpak all recorded a caused turnover.
• Shale Saeger had a season-high four ground balls to lead the Crimson and Gray and also recorded the first goal of his collegiate career.
• Carter Batt went 5-of-13 at the X, while Saeger was 5-of-11.
• Jax Francisco recorded 11 saves. 

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• Florida Tech out shot Embry-Riddle 40-38, while the Eagles had more shots on goal, 23-19.
• The Panthers won the gathered more ground balls, 25-23 and had fewer turnovers, 13-14.
• The Eagles won the faceoff battle, 15-10.
• Both teams caused five turnovers
• Florida Tech was 19-of-20 on clears, while Embry-Riddle went 16-of-24.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Panthers are now 5-1 against Embry-Riddle and 2-1 against the Eagles in Daytona Beach.
• Terpak's assist gives him 37 for his career, tying him with Tyler Covey (2016-2018) and Collin Stewart (2022-2024) for fifth in program history. His two points bring him to 74 for his career, tying him with Nate Deplancke (2021-2014) for 10^th in program history.

 
UP NEXT: Florida Tech returns to Rick Stottler Field on Wednesday, April 2 for a Sunshine State Conference matchup with Palm Beach Atlantic. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:30 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.