The Florida Tech Women’s Soccer team got a big win on Thursday, beating Sunshine State Conference Foe Barry, 3-1, to improve to 5-0 on the season.

Florida Tech has struggled to get a win against the Buccaneers in recent years, playing to scoreless ties and losing one goal games. Thursday things worked out in favor of the Panthers in the end, but the game started much like those other games, as the teams played to a scoreless tie after 45 minutes.

That first half was odd in the sense that the Barry offense had the most possession time in their offensive zone, keeping the ball on their feet with good passing and ball control. They did not turn that into scoring chances, getting only two shots off and neither were on goal.

The Panthers had some decent chances in that half, with six shots, with three having to be saved by Barry goalie Paula Forero. The best of those shots came with 10 seconds left in the first half. Kelly Johnson and Aubri Williamson had a shot at a 2-on-1, Johnson just couldn’t quite get there. 

Williamson took the shot herself and rocketed it on goal. Forero had to leap up and bang it over the top of the net, as the half came to an end.

Florida Tech had a couple early chances including a shot from Ciera Misner in the 53^rd minute. The Panthers kept the offensive pressure on and they were rewarded when Mary Watson found Eva Banton with a great cross pass. Banton let it rip and she got it by Foreo, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead at 53:03.

It didn’t take long for Barry to get even, with Sarah Wignall beating Florida Tech goalie Karlyn Prisco 1:59 later, tying the score and breaking up Prisco’s shutout streak which stretched just over two and a half games.

That goal allowed seemed to spark the Panthers offense, because they just put the pedal down. Misner got off another shot moments later and Williamson had a hard shot blocked in the 68^th minute. 

Shortly after a corner kick at 72:28, the Panthers solved Forero again, when Kiera McCarthy shot one past Forero, making it 2-1 in the 63^rd minute. Williamson got the assist.

The duo of McCarthy and Williamson struck again at the 73:07 mark, with McCarthy putting the icing on the cake as she took a pass from Williamson and rammed a header into the back of the net, for her second goal of the game and a 3-1 lead.

For more info: Barry @ Florida Tech Box score

It was a strong effort against a strong opponent for the Panthers and they will look to carry the momentum to St. Petersburg Saturday, for another Sunshine Conference match against Eckerd at 7:00 p.m.  You can follow all the action at FloridaTechSports.com. There may be a fee to access the video, with this being a road game.