MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Florida Tech men's lacrosse teams historic 2026 comes in an end in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, May 10.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Third-Seeded Florida Tech 8 | Sixth-Seeded Lenoir-Rhyne 15
Records: Third-Seeded Florida Tech 12-5 (6-1 SSC) | Sixth-Seeded Lenoir-Rhyne 12-4 (7-2 SAC)
Location: Rick Stottler Field | Melbourne, Florida
GAME NOTES
FIRST QUARTER
- Florida Tech faced an early deficit as Lenoir-Rhyne hit back-to-back goals while the first minute and 15 seconds.
- The Panthers earned possession as Carter Batt won the faceoff, but Tech committed a turnover, followed by a penalty.
- The Bears took advantage of the power play and extended their lead to 3-0.
- Shale Saeger won the ensuing faceoff, went down the field and scored the Panthers first goal of the game.
- LR took advantage of a turnover by the Panthers as they scored their fourth goal of the quarter at the 11:27 mark.
- Joe Coveleski brought Tech back within two on an unassisted goal.
- Lenoir-Rhyne continued their hot first quarter from the feel with goals coming with 7:10 and 6:22 on the clock.
- The Panthers defense made a stand just under the four-minute mark, as they withstood five LR shots including two saves by Jax Francisco.
- LR found the back of the net with 19 seconds remaining as they took a commanding 7-2 lead into the second.
SECOND QUARTER
- The Bears kept their foot on the gas as they kept adding to their lead with a goal at the 12:07 mark.
- LR won the following faceoff and scored quickly to push their lead to 9-2.
- Florida Tech had a stretch of five shots that just missed the mark with 11:47 on the clock.
- Jack Cornwell would score off an assist by Joe Coveleski with 3:59 left in the half.
- The Bears would tack on a goal at the end of the quarter as they went into half up 11-3.
THIRD QUARTER
- Jax Francisco saved three shots at the 13:08, 11:57 and 11:18 marks in the quarter.
- Max Watson scored a pole goal as he took a pass from Quinn Olson. Watson earned Tech the successful clear and fired passed the Lenoir-Rhyne keeper.
- Tech slowly gained momentum as Brooks van Esselstyn scored with 6:33 remaining in the quarter.
- Florida Tech's scoring run continued as Thomas Strong connected with Landon Addleman to shrink the LR lead to five.
- LR scored twice before the quarter ended as Tech was down by seven going into the fourth.
FOURTH QUARTER
- After forcing a Tech turnover, Lenoir-Rhyne erased time off the clock while scoring their 14th goal of the game.
- With LR on offense, the ball was thrown off the back of Jack Cornwell. Cornwell scooped the ball up and got Tech back on the attacking end where the Bear goalie saved two shots by the Panthers.
- Gavin Stecher scored with 5:52 remaining off Joe Coveleski's second assist of the game.
- With time winding down, Coveleski picked up his third assist of the game as Brooks van Esselstyn scored.
- Tech would run out of time as Lenoir-Rhyne advances to the NCAA Quarterfinals.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- Joe Coveleski led the Panthers with four points including three assists and one goal.
- Brooks van Esselstyn led Tech with two goals.
- Both teams were successful in the clear. Tech was 17-19 and LR was 19-20.
- The Panthers were 0-5 on the power play.
