Tritons Knock Off Undefeated No. 14 Florida Tech to Earn First SSC Win

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - At the beginning of the season, Eckerd women's soccer coach Danielle Fotopoulos stressed the importance of being strong defensively.

Tonight showed exactly why.

The Tritons secured their first conference win in dramatic fashion, upsetting previously undefeated No. 14 Florida Tech in the team's home opener at the Turley Athletic Complex after playing their first seven contests away from home.

Despite being outshot 27 to 12, the Tritons held a one-goal lead for a majority of match.

Going into the game, Florida Tech was undefeated and ranked in the top 15 in Division II. With that in mind, Eckerd started out fairly reserved offensively, drawing four offsides calls in the first 23 minutes. 

After a quick transition forward, Eckerd (5-3, 1-1 SSC) opened up the scoring with a cross in from Ashley Kreinbring to Olivia Ross-Johnson. Ross-Johnson received the ball outside the 18 and played a perfectly placed lob shot over the head of Florida Tech's keeper to take a 1-0 lead. 

For the remainder of the match, all eyes were on freshman goalkeeper Casey Winn. 

The Panthers (5-1, 1-1 SSC) finished the first half with nine shots, five on goal. With a one-goal lead, Eckerd had no choice but to sit in and play defensively. Florida Tech pressed forward in the second half, firing off 18 shots in the 45 minute span alone.

Despite the offensive push from the Panthers, Eckerd managed to keep its lead. Winn came away with 10 key saves throughout the match, earning her third clean sheet of the season.  Three of her saves in the half were in one-on-one situations, helping Eckerd preserve the lead.

Sydney Tiiman and Kreinbring both finished the night with four shots apiece and Kayla Gray and Ross-Johnson with two each.

The win is the second this season for the Tritons over a nationally-ranked opponent.  Eckerd beat then-No. 18 North Alabama on September 4 in Georgia, also by the score of 1-0.

The Tritons are back in action again at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, Sept. 21 for a Sunshine State Conference matchup against Florida Southern College at home.