via press release   MELBOURNE, Fla. – With Florida Tech’s fourth season just around the corner, the 2018 women’s lacrosse schedule has been released. The Panthers have 17 games on their slate, including 12 at Florida Tech Panther Stadium. FIT has gone 20-11 (.645) at Panther Stadium in the program’s first three seasons, including an 8-1 mark last season. Florida Tech opens its season with a home matchup against Molloy on Feb. 9. The Lions finished 10-5 in 2017. The teams were set to face each other in the Panthers’ 2017 opener but the game was cancelled  due to a major winter storm impacting Molloy’s travel. The Crimson and Gray will square off with six opponents slotted in the final 2017 rankings, including two NCAA tournament teams in Queens (No. 8) and Florida Southern (No. 2). Following the opener versus Molloy, the Panthers will take a weekend trip to the Carolinas where they will face Limestone (No. 13 in 2017) and Queens on Feb. 23 and 25. Similar to past seasons, Florida Tech is set to host nine home games during the month of March. Highlighting the home stand are contests with Pace (No. 18 in 2017) on Mar. 10 and McKendree (No. 19) on Mar. 13. The Panthers’ also host defending Sunshine State Conference Champion, and national runner-up, Florida Southern in their league opener on Mar. 24. FIT visits Tampa on Apr. 4 for its first SSC road game and then hosts Rollins (No. 14 in 2017) on Apr. 7. The Panthers then battle conference newcomers Palm Beach Atlantic and Embry-Riddle in consecutive games on Apr. 11 and 14. The contest with ERAU is Florida Tech’s Senior Day. The Panthers conclude the regular season on Apr. 21 at Saint Leo. The 2018 SSC Tournament is set for Apr. 27-29 and will be hosted by the team with the best in-conference record at the end of the regular season. Led by two-time SSC Coach of the Year, Corinne Desrosiers, Florida Tech posted a program-best record of 14-4 in 2017 including the Panthers’ first appearance in the SSC Title Game and first bid in the NCAA Division II Women’s Lacrosse Tournament. To access 2018 women’s lacrosse schedule, CLICK HERE.