The 17th-ranked Florida Tech women’s lacrosse team suffered their first loss of the season Saturday, dropping a 16-11 decision to No. 13 Embry-Riddle.

With the win, the Eagles improved to 11-0, while the Panthers fell to 7-1. It was the first Sunshine State Conference matchup for both teams.

Florida Tech starting goaltender Cailey Canessa kept the Panthers in it for the first three quarters, as this one could have gotten out of hand early. Canessa ended the day with a career-high 11 saves. 

Embry-Riddle goalie Aubrey Fixen matched Canessa’s save number, but the Panthers’ fourth-quarter drought was the difference, as Kailee O’Brien’s second goal of the day at the buzzer was Florida Tech’s only tally in a quarter that saw the visitors score five times.

Murphy McDonough led the Eagles with six goals and Kenley Zeruto scored four times in this one after scoring just once before this game. Jennifer Boyle scored four goals while Rachel Johnson had three to lead the Panthers. Kayla Minton and O’Brien each had two.

McDonough got the scoring started 1:39 in and Boyle scored 58 seconds later to tie the game. Aliza Garofalo scored two of the next three Eagles goals to put them ahead 4-1. Johnson cut the lead in half before McDonough made it 5-2 with 37 seconds left in the first quarter. 

Embry-Riddle’s Kenley Zeruto had two goals sandwiched around Boyle’s second goal, making it 7-3. Minton got her second to cut it to 7-4 and Boyle’s hat trick goal made it 7-5. Boyle would find the back of the net again with 13.3 seconds left, sending the Panthers to the locker room down 7-6.

Minton scored her second of the day 1:03 into the third and just like that, the game was tied at seven. Johnson would give the Panthers their first lead of the day at 8-7 but it lasted just 57 seconds, with Zeruto scoring to tie it at eight.

The Eagles regained the lead with another McDonough goal, which was answered by O’Brien’s seventh of the season, knotting the game at nine. Johnson’s 20th goal of the season, her hat trick goal gave the Panthers a 10-9 lead with 2:49 left in the third. 

That lasted all of 59 seconds, as McDonough struck again, tying it 10-10. Elizabeth Ninesling put the Eagles back on top with 52 seconds left in the third and the game was 11-10, heading into the final 15 minutes.

ERAU put the pedal down in the fourth, scoring five unanswered goals, with the first two off the stick of McDonough, giving the Eagles a 13-10 lead. Goals from Zeruto, Garofalo, and Ninesling made it 16-10 before O’Brien’s buzzer-beater.

ERAU outshot the Panthers 34-27 and held a 21-9 advantage on draw controls. Florida Tech had 18 ground balls to the Eagles’ 15. Florida Tech was 16-for-18 0n clears, with ERAU going 14-for-15.

For more info: ERAU @ Florida Tech Box Score

The Panthers will look to rebound on Wednesday, April 6 when they host Palm Beach Atlantic at 7:00 p.m.