Saint Anselm gave the sixth-ranked Panthers women’s lacrosse team all they could handle Saturday night but Florida Tech kept them at a distance late and came away with a 15-12 non-conference victory.

Sam Schiano scored seven goals to lead the charge for Florida Tech. Lauren Tybor scored four goals and had two assists and Sara Grenier had a hat trick and three assists. Mollie Kaplan had a single tally as well.

Florida Tech goalie Stephanie Stuart made eight saves on the night and her counterpart Zoie Cavotta was good for 12. Florida Tech took 36 shots in all, while the Hawks had 28.

Saint Anselm (0-2) was hurt by 26 turnovers, while the Panthers had 21. The visitors held a slight edge on ground balls, 13-12 and draw controls, 16-13.

The host Panthers (4-0) got off to a fast start with four goals in the first 14:15 of the game. Grenier tallied first with Schiano scoring consecutive goals. Tybor had the fourth one.

Molly Beck got the Hawks on the board with 13:54 left and she was followed by Brenda Holland and Erica Mattila. Just like that, it was 4-3.

Schiano took control back and scored back-to-back goals for the Panthers, making it 6-3 with 1:48 to go in the half. Saint Anselm wasn’t done, as they got goals from Beck and Meaghan Sheehy 23 seconds apart, cutting the Panthers lead to 6-5 at the break.

Schiano picked up right where she left off in the first half scoring a man-up goal 2:21 into the second half. Mattila answered 35 seconds later, getting the Hawks to within one, 7-6. Kaplan and Tybor combined for goals 13 seconds apart and the Panthers lead was 9-6.

Mattila was not letting her team go down without a fight. Her hat-trick goal, along with the second of the night from Sheehy got the visitors back within one, 9-8 with 21:18 left.

Tybor and Grenier tallied again before Mattila struck again to make it 11-9. Unassisted goals from Schiano and Grenier gave the Panthers some breathing room, 13-9 with 10:27 to go. Emma Palumbo’s goal pulled Saint Anselm to within 13-10 before Schiano and Holland traded goals 48 seconds apart.

With the Panthers up 14-11, Tybor scored the final Panthers goal of the night with 3:58 to go and Palumbo got her second in just over seven minutes to make it 15-12.

The Panthers were able to keep the Hawks off the board for the final 2:45 and they started this eight-game homestand with a win.

For more info: Saint Anselm @ Florida Tech Box Score

Alderson Broaddus is next up for the Panthers, on Monday night. Opening draw is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.