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Panthers Remain Undefeated with Big Win over Pioneers

The Florida Tech women’s lacrosse team continued their dominant start to the season with an 18-6 win at Tusculum (2-4) on Wednesday. The Panthers have now scored 78 goals in four games, improving to 4-0.

Carly Niro had a goal and six assists for a seven-point night to lead the Panthers. Rachel Johnson and Caroline MacLeod had four goals each. MacLeod had a hat trick in the third quarter alone, and Johnson added an assist for a five-point night. 

Kayla Minton had three goals and an assist, while Millie Hurt, Jennifer Boyle, and Charlotte Hardie had two goals each. Hardie added two assists.

Tia Tuininga scored the first three goals for Tusculum and Kylie Marek had two.

Minton got the Panthers on the board first with a goal that just beat the shot clock and Pioneers goalie Taylor Floyd to make it 1-0. Tuininga tied things with 10:20 to go. Golas by Johnson and Hurt came 15 seconds apart and it was 3-1.

Minton, Niro, Hardie, MacLeod, and Johson all tallied a goal and the Panthers ended the first quarter on a seven-goal run to lead 8-1.

Tuininga scored 1:21 into the second quarter before Hardie made it 9-2. Minton and Johnson each tallied their hat trick goals 44 seconds apart and it was 10-2 with 10:16 left. Tuininga’s hat trick goal came 1:41 later and it was 11-3.

Boyle and Hurt made it 13-3 and the running clock started with 4:36 left but a goal by Kylie Marek made it 13-4 1:02 later and the Panthers went into the half up by eight.

Kellen Lucchesi started the third quarter in goal after Panthers starter Cailey Canessa made four saves and allowed four goals in 30 minutes of action.

MacLeod scored the only three goals of the third quarter at 14:16, 10:02, and 3:30. That gave the Panthers a 16-4 lead heading into the final 15 minutes.

Boyle got her second of the night 1:42 into the fourth quarter to make it 17-4. Kamryn McNeil made it 17-5 before Johnson put her fourth of the night past Caroline Monroe, who started the fourth quarter for Tusculum. Floyd finished the night with six saves and 16 goals against.

Marek scored the final goal of the night on a free-position shot, making it a 12-goal differential at the end of the night. Lucchesi allowed two goals and made one save.

The Panthers outshot the Pioneers 37-12 and held an 18-8 advantage on ground balls. Draw controls were in favor of the Panthers 16-12 and Tusculum had 20 turnovers to the Panthers 12. Florida Tech was 10-for-13 on clears, while the Pioneers were 7-for-16.

For more info: Florida Tech @ Tusculum Box Score

Florida Tech will return home Saturday, March 12 to take on Lander at 1:00 p.m.