MELBOURNE, Fla. – Just over 40 hours after beginning the 2026 campaign, the Florida Tech men's soccer team returned to the pitch of Rick Stottler Field on Saturday afternoon for a regional matchup with Lenoir-Rhyne. A pair of first half goals followed by an immense effort from the defense in the second half earned the Panthers their first win of the new campaign, 2-1.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: #22 Florida Tech 2 | Lenoir-Rhyne 1
Records: #22 Florida Tech 1-1-0 (0-0-0 SSC) | Lenoir-Rhyne 0-2-0 (0-0-0 SAC)
Location: Rick Stottler Field | Melbourne, Fla.
GAME NOTES
• The Panthers took the lead on the game's first shot just over six minutes in when Caio Amorim de Deus' cross was headed in brilliantly by
Max May.
• The next 25 minutes saw cagey action and possession between the teams but no shots until the 31
st minute when Matteo Ghiradelli found Leny Duperrnay at the top of the box. Duperrnay held off two Bears defenders to find
Victor Thompson cutting in from the right side, who then struck it first time with his left foot beyond the reach of the keeper to give Tech a 2-0 advantage.
• The Bears got on the board just over five minutes before halftime on their first shot of the game thanks to a header converted from a corner kick.
• Tech received a red card in the 56
th minute for a high challenge, leaving the Crimson and Gray with ten men for the final 34 minutes.
• Lenoir-Rhyne sought an equalizer in the 63
rd minute, only to have a shot from distance saved by
Elias Ronning Orn.
• The Bears received a free-kick opportunity five minutes later, but Ronning Orn had little difficulty in dealing with the shot.
• Lenoir-Rhyne's last chance to draw level came with just over three minutes remaining from a deflection in the box off a free kick but the offside flag went up. Nonetheless, Ronning Orn leapt off his feet to deny a shot that was heading for the top right corner.
• From there, Florida Tech were compact and kept the Bears from entry into the final third and secured their first win of 2026.
NOTABLE PANTHERS
•
Elias Ronning Orn recorded four saves for his first win of the season.
•
Max May and
Victor Thompson each recorded the first goal of their Florida Tech careers.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• The all-time series is now even at 1-1-0. This was the first ever meeting between the schools in Melbourne.
• Florida Tech is 13-10-2 all-time against the SAC.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will hit the road for the first time this season when they travel to Dahlonega, GA on Tuesday to face North Georgia. Kickoff is set for 12 P.M.
