MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Florida Tech women's soccer team were back on the Rick Stottler Field pitch Friday night as they concluded the 2026 regular season against Tampa in a game that was rescheduled after the originally scheduled matchup on October 10
th was postponed due to inclement weather.
Rio Naganawa's 43
rd minute goal was all the Panthers needed to secure a 1-0 victory and the No. 3 seed for the Sunshine State Conference Tournament.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 2 Florida Tech 1 | Tampa 0
Records: No. 2 Florida Tech 12-1-5 (6-1-3 SSC) | Tampa 8-5-3 (5-3-2 SSC)
Location: Rick Stottler Field | Melbourne, Florida
GAME NOTES
• The first 13 minutes of the game that were played on October 10
th saw two shots from the Panthers and one from the Spartans, none of which were on target.
• Within 30 seconds of the restart, Tampa had an opportunity to go in front with an opportunity in the area but skied their shot over the bar.
• The game's first true opportunity came in the 20
th minute when
Maria Rojas' shot through traffic after a corner kick was redirected by the Spartan keeper.
• UTampa applied pressure in the 28
th minute but had two chances go wide.
• In the 40
th minute, Tampa had a shot from well outside the area sail off target.
• Two minutes later,
Rio Naganawa capitalized on a deflected ball in the area off of a free kick and put Florida Tech on top.
• UTampa would have several offensive opportunities throughout the second half but were unable to officially test
Mette Brandes in the Panther goal.
• Meanwhile, Tech had several chances to put the game away, only to be denied.
• The first opportunity fell to
Alyssa Gonzalez in the 52
nd minute when fired a shot at the near post from outside the area, only for the Tampa keeper to react in time.
• Rojas would get her second chance of the game eight minutes later, this time her flicked-on effort on a corner kick would be met with quick reflexes from the keeper.
•
Alice Mottershead would see a chance in the 68
th minute and very nearly beat the keeper with a great effort towards the upper right corner of the goal, only to be saved.
•
Eboni Bradshaw nearly had a wondergoal with in the 88
th minute when she got on the end of a pass along the sideline, beat her defender and then fired a shot at the near post but the keeper was able to knock it down.
• The Spartans' last chance to equalize came with just under two minutes remaining, when a ball redirected out of the area from a corner kick found a Spartan foot, only to sail well high of the goal.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• Tampa leads the all-time series, 13-8-8. However, Florida Tech is 5-1-1 against UTampa since the start of the 2021 season.
• The Panthers are now 5-4-4 all-time at home against the Spartans and are unbeaten in the past four matchups at Rick Stottler Field.
•
Rio Naganawa's goal was her second of the season and her first at home since a brace on October 1, 2025 against Saint Leo.
• Tech's defense did not allow a shot on target for the second time this season.
• The Panthers have now recorded 26 clean sheets in 63 games under
Katy Freels.
•
Mette Brandes earned her sixth clean sheet of the season. In doing so, she becomes the seventh Crimson and Gray keeper to win 10 games in a single season.
UP NEXT
The Panthers begin the postseason on Monday night, November 2
nd when they host Embry-Riddle in the Sunshine State Conference Quarterfinal at Rick Stottler Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 P.M.
For the latest news, updates and information on Florida Tech Women's Soccer, 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.
SCHOLARS. CHAMPIONS. LEADERS.
