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FIT Falls Short in Overtime Setback to Catawba

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in .
Above – Brian Bacarella scored two goals in Monday’s overtime loss to Catawba –Photo by Amanda Stratford Photography From www.floridatechsports.com MELBOURNE, Fla. (Men’s Lacrosse) – Florida Tech (1-4) rallied from behind to head into the fourth quarter with an 8-6 lead. Up two with just under four minutes remaining in regulation, the Panthers suffered from déjà vu for the second consecutive contest as Catawba College (3-3) forced overtime and found the net two minutes into extras, defeating FIT, 12-11, on Monday evening at Hustler Stadium. Austen Zugelter (Vero Beach) registered a hat trick for the second time this season, Andrew Conley (Boone HS) recorded four assists, CJ Nichols added two goals and two assists, and Brian Bacarellafinished with two goals. However, the Indians made the most out of a late Panthers penalty, tying the game on a man-up goal with 59 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Jordan Hayes (0-3) stopped 15 shots for FIT, but was tagged with his third loss of the season while Indians goalie Pete Wesselman improved to 3-3 on the year. Catawba is now 3-0 against Florida Tech all-time. After the Indians scored a quick goal to begin the game, Nichols fired a shot that found the net to tie the game at 1 with 11:41 remaining in the first quarter. Catawba answered back with four consecutive goals, but goals by Zugelter and Charlie Morrisette off assists from Conley cut FIT’s deficit to two as the Indians led 5-3 at halftime. Zugelter carried the load early in the second half, scoring back-to-back goals to tie the game at 5-5. John Schiech’s second of four goals gave the Indians their third lead of the game, but a rare goal by defender Jordan Carlock (first career goal) was followed with goals by Christian Isola and Nick Wynne, allowing the Panthers to take a two-point cushion heading into the fourth quarter. The Indians outscored the Panthers, 5-3, in the fourth quarter and overcame Bacarella’s two crucial goals to tie the game at 11 with less than a minute remaining, forcing the third consecutive overtime for FIT. The Panthers are now 0-3 in overtime contests and have lost the last four games by a combined total of four goals. FIT looks for its first ever Sunshine State Conference victory in its inaugural game on Friday, March 14 against Saint Leo University. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start and live stats, audio and video will be provided on FloridaTechSports.com, the official home of FIT athletics. Admission to all home lacrosse games is free with a valid Florida Tech ID. Ticket prices are $7 for general admission and $5 for senior citizens ages 65 and up, youth ages 5-16 and non-Florida Tech students with school ID. Children ages four and under are also free. Box Score

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