Florida Tech Explodes in Second Half, Defeats Eckerd 4-1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd men's soccer team took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but a four-goal onslaught in the second half by Florida Tech fueled the Panthers in a 4-1 win over the Tritons on Saturday night at Johnson Field.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: Florida Tech 4, Eckerd 1
Records: Eckerd 2-3 (0-2 SSC); FIT 4-1 (1-0 SSC)
All-Time Series: FIT leads, 28-17-2

HOW IT HAPPENED
* The first half was very evenly played with neither team able to create quality chances for the majority of the period.  Juan David Tejada broke the stalemate in the 40th minute with a brilliant goal, dribbling away from his defender on the left side of the box and ripping a perfectly-placed strike into the upper right corner.
* The Tritons maintained a 1-0 lead until the 67th minute.  Before the Panthers equalized the match, EC goalkeeper Alex Gott made three fantastic saves on close-range shots by Florida Tech.
* FIT finally made good in the 67th minute with the equalizer from Brandon Smalley when Hugo Lopez found him running on into the top of the box.  Smalley took the pass and slipped the shot past Gott inside the left post.
* The Panthers scored what proved to be the game-winner nine minutes later, set up by a free kick from just outside the box on the left side.  Smalley curved the ball to the far post, where Stian Hagboe Olsen finished for a 2-1 lead.
* Florida Tech added two more late goals, first in the 82nd minute from Evan Enders and later in the 87th minute from Lopez as he punched in the rebound of a saved shot.  Lopez factored into three of his team's four goals.

NOTABLE
* While shots in the first half were even at four apiece, the Panthers dominated the second half outshooting Eckerd, 16-1.
* Tejada's goal was his third of the season and marked the fourth straight match in which he recorded a point.  His goal also moved the junior into a tie for 13th place on the program's career scoring list.
* FIT has scored at least four goals in four of its five matches thus far this season.

QUOTABLE
"It's been a hard week for the program.  Despite the plethora of injuries, I thought we did a good job in the first half and scored a terrific goal.  Then we really struggled in the second period and the power of Tech ran over us.  There are some guys who we had to rely upon tonight who quite frankly aren't conditioned well enough for this level of soccer.  It showed in our inability to effectively press and transition as the game wore on.  I need to rectify that in the long term." - EC head coach Ian Cameron

UP NEXT
The Tritons pay a visit to SSC newcomer Embry-Riddle on Wednesday, traveling to Daytona Beach for a 7:00 PM match.  The Eagles (1-3, 0-2 SSC) were edged by Lynn earlier tonight, 1-0.