Gaffney, S.C. – The Florida Tech men's soccer team battled to a 3-2 overtime win over Limestone in the Super Region 2 Championship to advance to the Final Four.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Tech 3, Limestone 2
Records: Florida Tech (13-2-5 7-1-2 SSC) | Limestone (16-2-3, 8-2-1 SAC)
Locations: Saints Field | Gaffney, S.C.
STATS OF THE MATCH:
- Both teams battled for possession for most of the first half, but the Panthers outshot the Saints 4-2.
- Iker Bastida made a huge diving save in the 39th minute to keep the Saints off the board.
- Limestone wasted no time in the second half, scoring just eight minutes into the period. Jacob Hancock was fed a cross to the right side of the box for the opportunity.
- Seven minutes later, Fabio Amaral answered back to tie it up. After regaining possession and pushing the ball down the field, a ball off the foot of Joakim Jahnsen landed to Amaral to net the equalizer.
- Just ten minutes later, Jacopo Ghezzi took a free kick that went off the head of Andrea Pisaneschi, to the head of Sjur Drechsler to the back of the net.
- In the 75th minute, Limestone tied it up once again with a header of their own.
- Neither team could capitalize for the remainder of regulation to push it to overtime.
- In the first overtime period, teams battled but neither was able to record a shot on goal.
- The game-winner came in the 110th minute on a corner kick as Ghezzi sent the ball to the far post, where Pisaneschi headed it to Amaral, and Amaral was able to convert for the win.
- Limestone outshot Tech 11-10.
- Iker Bastida tallied five saves in the win.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- The Panthers hold an 13-8-3 all-time record in the NCAA Tournament.
- Tech is now 2-0-1 against the Saints.
- This was the first postseason meeting between the teams.
- This marks Tech's fifth trip to the Final Four and the first since 1993.
UP NEXT: Florida Tech awaits their seeding for the Final Four. The Final Four will take place in Matthews, N.C. on Dec. 7.
Courtesy of Florida Tech Athletic Communications