The Florida Tech men’s soccer team suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday, falling to the homestanding Lenoir-Rhyne Bears by the score of 2-0.

The Panthers were playing their second game in three nights as they opened their season with a 2-1 overtime win against No. 6 Wingate on Thursday at Wingate Things were different on Saturday as Tech never got into an offensive rhythm.

The Bears (1-0) controlled things in the early going, keeping the ball in their end of the pitch for the better part of the first seven minutes. Thibault Chretien did get a chance in the 10th minute for Florida Tech but Camden Coleman made the save for the Bears.

The Panthers (1-1) got a run in the 23rd minute and got the ball by Coleman, but they were whistled offside and the match remained scoreless. 

Luis Tovar Romero, Sr. was up to the task in net for the Panthers as he was able to make a couple of impressive saves in the first half. His best came with 14 seconds remaining in the half as a Lenoir-Rhyne corner came down in front of the goal and four Bears players converged on it with Diego Delgado getting off a shot, only to have  Romero, Sr. come away with the ball and keep the match scoreless at the half.

The Bears got their first goal 8:27 into the second half. Following a yellow card against the Panthers, Lenoir-Rhyne took possession and Carles Montoliu Lobo beat Romero Sr. just inside the left post, breaking the scoreless deadlock.

With five corners in the second half, Tech did get set plays, but just weren’t able to turn them into decent scoring chances. Four of their seven shots came in the second half, but the Panthers only had three shots on goal all night.

Jaime De Manuel gave the Bears the insurance goal with 5:45 left as he launched it downfield from distance and with Romero, Sr. playing up on the ball, it bounced over his head and into the net. The goal was assisted by Montoliu Lobo, giving him a two-point night.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Lenoir-Rhyne Box Score

Lenoir-Rhyne out shot the Panthers 17-7, with six shots on goal. The Bears held a 6-5 edge in corners and Romero, Sr. had four saves in his first start of the season. His counterpart Coleman saved three.

The home opener at Rick Stottler Field will see Florida Tech play host to Flagler College on September 11th at 7:00 p.m.