MELBOURNE, Fla. – Florida Tech's heart and effort were never in question during Saturday afternoon's Sunshine State Conference matchup with Rollins. As it turned out, the game became a classic case of "they just ran out of time". The Panther defense held the Tars scoreless over the game's final 20:38 and nearly came back from a four-goal deficit in the process. Ultimately, Tech could not find the one more goal they needed to force overtime, falling short, 10-9.
 
Following the game, the program held their Senior Day festivities in which Jax Francisco, Garrett Gmeiner, Braden Hartlieb, Ethan Hodges, Gary Lozito, Brett Nastos, Evan Park, JR Radun, Danny Richmond, Gavin Stecher, Jackson Sytsma, Jacob Terpak, JP Thomas, Andrew Walenty and Gavin Wessel were honored for their contributions to the program.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final:  Florida Tech 9, Rollins 10
Records: Florida Tech (6-8, 2-4 SSC) | Rollins (7-7, 4-2 SSC)
Locations: Rick Stottler Field | Melbourne, Fla.

FIRST QUARTER: 

• The Panthers took the lead after just 38 seconds, when Jack Cornwell took a feed from Jakob Terpak and fired home.
• Rollins would need only one second to equalize as Charlie Metz took the groundball from a faceoff and did the rest himself.
• The Tars took their first lead just 48 seconds later when Sam Mattson took a pass from just in front of the center circle, sprinter to his right and found the net.
• Less than a minute later, Florida Tech was back on level terms when Bobby Canaway intercepted a pass in his own zone and then went the rest of the way for his first goal of the season.
• RC would go back ahead through Mattson just 11 seconds later, this time on the man-up, thanks to a powerful shot from the right side.
• At 2:37, Jack Johnstone finished off a three-pass counterattack to double the lead.
• Just over a minute later, a lightning-quick Tech transition ended with Brooks Van Esselstyn's 10^th goal of the season.

 
SECOND QUARTER: 

• Mattson completed his hat trick 1:12 into the period with another sharp shot from the right side.
• Johnstone's second of the day would follow just over two and a half minutes later.
• Johnstone would get his hat trick 1:58 later after a winding run through the Crimson and Gray defense.
• Gavin Wessel brought the Tars run to a halt at 5:03, taking a long pass from Jax Francisco and taking care of the rest.

 
THIRD QUARTER: 

• Gavin Stecher got the scoring started at the 11:49 mark with the help of some excellent footwork.
• Johnstone continued to add to the stat sheet with a point-blank goal at 10:58 and then notched his fifth 34 seconds later on a feed from Aaron Williams.
• Van Esselstyn's second came at 6:29 on a laser from a distance, with Aidan Addison providing the helper.
• Rollins responded in under a minute, doing so through Logan McHugh.
• Van Esselstyn made it a hat trick at 1:48, finishing off a counterattack.

 
FOURTH QUARTER: 

• Derek Duplechin brought life to the comeback at 7:08 with a lightning-quick finish from an Addison feed.
• Gary Lozito's laser with the man-up at 2:26 brought a jolt to the Florida Tech bench, instilling belief that the comeback was on.
• Tech won the ensuing faceoff but was unable to get away a shot due to a turnover.
• The Panthers got one more chance with time winding down, but Addison's shot went wide.

NOTABLE PANTHERS: 

• Brooks Van Esselstyn recorded his second hat trick of the season.
• Gavin Stecher contributed with a goal, a groundball and a caused turnover.
• Gavin Wessel provided a goal, two ground balls, and two caused turnovers.
• Drew Haffner had his second multi-goal game of the season.
• Danny Richmond had a career-high three assists.
• Bobby Canaway contributed a goal, an assist, a groundball and a caused turnover.
• Garrett Gmeiner tallied three ground balls.
• Aidan Addison and Jakob Terpak each posted two assists.
• Steve Ulrichs pitched in with two ground balls, and one caused turnover.
• Braden Hartlieb recorded a groundball and a caused turnover.
• Carter Batt, JR Radun and Shale Saeger were tops in ground balls with five.
• Shale Saeger went 6-of-10 at the X, while Carter Batt was 4-of-12. Both players also scooped three ground balls.
• Jax Francisco recorded 12 saves. 

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• The Panthers caused more turnovers (7-6) and won the groundball battle (30-26).
• The Tars outshot the Panthers (42-35 and 22-21 on goal), won the faceoff battle (12-10) and turnover battle (14-20).
• Florida Tech was a perfect 23-of-23 on clears, while Rollins went 20-of-21.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Panthers are now 6-12 against Rollins and 4-5 against the Tars in Melbourne.

UP NEXT: Florida Tech conclude the regular season on Wednesday night, April 16^th at #15 ranked Saint Leo. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:30 P.M.
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