The Nova Southeastern Sharks made the most of their first appearance in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament since 2014 on Monday night, taking down the Florida Tech Panthers by the score of 3-0.
With the loss, the Panthers (10-4-1) will have to wait to see if they will take part in the NCAA Tournament which is slated to start November 9th.
The Sharks (12-3-1) had the edge in possession time during the first 45 minutes, but neither goalie was really tested, until Ignacio Goya took a long-range shot out of nowhere that seemed to catch evereyone off guard, including Panthers goalie Jason Fesquet, who had no chance. Goya’s shot was a laser from about 35 yards out, giving the host Sharks a 1-0 lead with 1:22 left in the first half.
NSU led in shots eight to seven in that first half. Both teams took three shots, with NSU goalie Titouan Le Roux coming up with three saves and Fesquet making two. The Sharks took five corners, to Florida Tech’s one.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, Nova Southeastern’s defense tightened in the second half and they did not allow the Panthers a shot on goal. The Panthers were victimized by some bad luck, as well.
Solomon Wheatley banged one off the post 6:36 into the second half and that was followed less than two minutes later by a Luca Campanini header that hit the post. He got the rebound, but shot it wide.
The Panthers got a rare corner kick in this one at the 72:49 mark and Campanini got it to Paris Junior Roserie, only to see his shot go high.
With 8:51 left in the game, Tapfuma Dimairo was chasing a play and pushed a Nova player in the back, earning the Sharks a penalty kick. Darwin Lom took it and converted, giving his squad a 2-0 lead.
It didn’t take the Sharks long to put the game out of reach, with Bradley Fountain scoring just 1:11 after Lom and making it 3-0.
Fesquet made six saves in the second half, as the Sharks took 14 second half shots and ebded the night with 22. Florida Tech managed 10 shots in the second half, but Le Roux was not tested.
For more info: Florida Tech @ NSU Box Score
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