Header Photo: Alexis Sheely – Credit: Florida Tech Athletics
The 10th-ranked Florida Tech Panthers got a huge win on home turf Saturday, beating #25 Colorado School of Mines 1-0. It is the first win over a ranked team for Tech since they beat Grand Valley State in 2016.
The game-winning goal came off the foot of Alexis Sheely, who made good on a penalty kick in the 49th minute.
The Orediggers came into this contest on a 24-match unbeaten streak that included 18 wins. Florida Tech goaltender Maria Sanchez Recuero made sure that streak ended as she got her third clean sheet of the year. Sanchez Recuero has now allowed one goal in 380 minutes this season. She now has three straight shutouts.
The Panthers came out firing in this one with six of the first seven shots. None were on net, but they established a presence against Colorado School of Mines goalie Sierra Roth who has a very good defense in front of her.
Florida Tech (3-0-1) held a 13-9 advantage in shots at the half, with just one shot on goal from Alyssa Bartle in the 25th minute. CSM had two shots on goal from Hannah Rowan (6:21), and Landry Corbett (34:33).
Just 3:42 into the second half Colorado School Of Mines Lauren Clingman was whistled for a foul inside the 18-yard box, setting up the Sheely penalty kick. She made good on it, whistling it by Roth for the icebreaker.
Clingman had a chance to make up for the mistake about seven minutes later as she got off a decent shot but was denied by Sanchez Recuero.
It looked like the Orediggers evened things up in the 765th minute as a shot went off the post and was kicked into the net by Jordan Barnhart. Unbeknownst to Colorado, the play was whistled down for offsides and the Panthers held on to the 1-0 lead.
The visitors kept the pressure on as Sanchez Recuero was forced to come forward and make a diving save with 4:05 left in the match and then with 2:328 left she saw a corner kick turn into a pretty good chance, as the ball ricocheted off the crossbar.
For more info: Florida Tech @ Colorado School Of Mines Box Score
Florida Tech took 22 shots in this game with five on goal, while the Orediggers had 10, with three on goal. The Panthers held a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks and committed 12 of the 22 fouls.
This was the first win over a ranked team since 2016 for the Panthers.
Florida Tech will travel to Embry-Riddle on Wednesday for their first Sunshine State Conference match of the season. They will get underway at 7:00 p.m.