LANDER, SC – In the final five minutes of the first half, the Panthers found the net twice, leading to an overwhelming 3-0 victory against Wingate Sunday afternoon. Logan Collins scored his second goal in three days and his first game-winner, securing Tech's first victory of the 2025 campaign.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Florida Tech 3, Wingate 0
Records: Florida Tech (1-0-1, 0-0-0 SSC), Wingate (0-2-0, 0-0-0 SAC)
Location: Van Taylor Stadium | Lander, SC
 
STATS OF THE MATCH

• The Panthers came out swinging, getting two great looks to score before the 7^th minute. However, the game remained scoreless.
• Tech's defense held Wingate to three shots in the first half, blocking two of them around the 25^th minute.
• After 15 minutes of little action, a Mario Rekirsch pass bounced off a Bulldog defender's cleats right to an open Collins, who made them pay by striking the ball past the goal just inside the right post.
• Escaping a near goal from Wingate, Alessandro Fossati settles a long kick from the Panther keeper, deals the ball to Matteo Ghirardelli, who then crosses it to a wide-open Rekirsch in the box for an easy score off a header with just one minute left in the half.
• Tech held the 2-0 lead heading into the second half.
• The Panther defense was stout throughout the game, keeping the Bulldogs off the board and away from the net. Wingate once again was allowed three shots in the second half.
• In the 75^th minute, the Crimson and Gray added one more to their total. Fossati dropped a stellar ball to Antonio Di Gaudio on the right side of the field. The graduate took one step forward, turned, and struck a missile into the top left corner from outside the box.

 BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Panthers take the all-time series lead with a 5-4-0 record.
• Teams met for the fifth consecutive season, with the Panthers having won four of the past five. 
• Logan Collins and Mario Rekirsch scored their third career goals.
• Collins netted the opening goal in each of the first two games, becoming the first Panther to score in back-to-back games to start the season since Ettore Casadei and Osvaldo Santana in 2023, and the first to score both opening goals since Adin Kavara in 2014.
• First career goal for Antonio Di Gaudio and first career assist for Alessandro Fossati.

NOTABLE PANTHERS

• Collins scored the opening goal in both of this season's games. Sunday's goal was his first career game-winner.
• Rekirsch and Di Gaudio each scored a goal. Matteo Ghirardelli and Fossati earned assists.
• The defense did not allow a single shot on goal for the season's first clean sheet.

 
UP NEXT: The Panthers take almost a week off before their home opener against North Georgia on Saturday, September 13 at 12 p.m.
 
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