Florida Tech Claims South Region Title over West Florida, Advances to the National Quarterfinals

Florida Tech Claims South Region Title over West Florida, Advances to the National Quarterfinals

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Panthers defeat Argos 3-1 in penalty kicks to win South Region Championship and advance to Elite 8 for just the second time in program history

By: Daniel Supraner | Florida Tech Athletic Communications

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: FT 1, UWF 1 – Florida Tech Advances 3-1 in PKs
Records: Florida Tech (10-3-8) | West Florida (14-3-3)
Locations: UWF Soccer Complex | Pensacola, Fla.

STATS OF THE MATCH: 

  • Panthers got on the board first on a goal by Marem Ndiongue in the 29th minute off a beautiful cross from Kate Frazier. Frazier beat her defender  near the goal line and then thread a pass to Ndiongue who was open in front and scored to put Tech up 1-0.
  • Argos tied the game at 1-1 in the 35th minute on a score by Peyton Peffers off an assist from Blair Cowan. 
  • UWF finished the first half with an advantage in both shots (5-4) and corner kicks (4-0)
  • Argos controlled momentum through much of the second half, posting an edge in shots (8-1) and corner kicks (4-2 ). 
  • The score remained tied at 1-1 after two overtime period and the game went to penalty kicks.
  • Sanchez Recuero recorded 8 saves over the 110 minutes of regulation and overtime while her counterpart made 2 saves in the game.
  • Mayara Queiroz Reis and UWF's Blair Cowan scored to make it 1-1 at the end of the first round of PKs.
  • Emily Swope had her PK stopped while the Argos Kileigh Whited rang her shot off the cross bar and it remained 1-1 at the end of two rounds of PKs.
  • Vilma Ferdfelt converted her PK and UWF's Julia Comin missed wide and Tech took a 2-1 lead after three rounds 
  • Kate Frazier put the Panthers up 3-1 in PKs and Sanchez Recuero sealed the deal as she stopped Makayla Parkes attempt to give Florida Tech a NCAA South Region Championship and a berth into the Elite 8.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
  • Florida Tech won the South Region Championship and advanced to the Elite 8 for just  the second time in program history. 
  • This is 7th NCAA Tournament game that the Panthers have won in penalty kicks in program history. 
  • This will be the second meeting between Florida Tech and Lenoir-Rhyne this season. The game ended in a 0-0 draw at Rick Stottler Field on Sept. 11. Panthers are 2-0-1 all-time against Lenoir-Rhyne.

UP NEXT: Florida Tech advances to the Elite 8 where it will face Southeast Regional Champion Lenoir-Rhyne  in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. ET at the UWF Soccer Complex. The only other time the Panthers appeared in the Elite 8 was against this same Bears squad in 2010. Tech won the contest in penalty kicks (5-4) to advance to the only Final Four appearance in program history.

Editor's Note: An SSC squad has adanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the second consecutive year. The last time a conference team moved to the Final Four was 2014 (Rollins).