Florida Tech Wins With Defense Again as Panthers Edge Moccasins 1-0

LAKELAND â€" For the second game in a row, Florida Southern took on one of the nation’s top defensive units, and for the second game in a row, a goal roughly midway through the second half decided the outcome. Drake Hillman notched the goal for Florida Tech on Wednesday, as the Panthers held off the Moccasins for a 1-0 win.

Despite the score, Florida Southern (4-4, 1-2 Sunshine State Conference) had its share of scoring chances against a team that’s now allowed only four goals in the first eight games. The 13 shots taken by the Moccasins were nearly twice the 7.2 per game the Panthers were allowing coming into the match, and there were several other close calls as well. The only shot that found its mark for either team, however, came from Hillman, and it was enough to give Florida Tech (6-2, 2-1) its third 1-0 win of the season.

“I’m extremely proud of how hard we worked tonight,” said Moccasin coach Hugh Seyfarth. “The guys really answered the bell after the loss to Lynn on Saturday and played very well. I’m especially proud of the midfielders and their work rate throughout the game.”

Hillman struck in the 65th minute, on a play that looked harmless enough. With center back Kristopher Andersson playing the ball down the middle, Hillman gave chase as two Moccasin defenders and goalkeeper Andres Guzman converged on it. Somewhere inside the 18-yard line, there was confusion on the play, and Hillman split the defenders and stepped around Guzman for the shot.

It spoiled an otherwise spectacular night for Guzman, who made five saves in only his second start, none of them easy chances. The Panthers tested him right from the outset when Nick Robinson forced him into saves in the eighth and 13th minutes, and Francisco Ubiera did the same in the 15th. The first was the most difficult, with Robinson working his way for an open shot from the near left wing, and sending it curling toward the upper right corner. Guzman grabbed it cleanly though with a diving effort that kept the game scoreless in the early going.

“We knew Florida Tech would come out on the attack very directly, but we handled it very well, which is something we’ve had some trouble with this year. Andres made some great saves too that gave us a lift.”

Florida Southern withstood the early pressure by Florida Tech, and after giving up 10 shots in the first 25 minutes, the Mocs allowed only one the remainder of the first half. Meanwhile, the Moccasin offense began to break through, including two good scoring chances helped created by reserve midfielder Adam Hansjons.

In the opening minutes of the second half, both teams again had golden opportunities to break the deadlock. The Panthers had the first one when a cross by Yannis Pele set up a running header by Michael O’Farrell in front of the net, but the ball was pushed just high over the crossbar. The Mocs then countered when Viktor Bakkioui crossed one out of the left corner for Zach Hofstetter, whose shot was also too high.

Florida Southern later came up just short on two other extremely close plays. Ashley Holmes played a ball deep into the left corner that Bakkioui was perhaps inches away from being able to play it back to the center, and Bakkioui later sent a dangerous cross to the middle that Florida Tech goalkeeper Brentton Muhammad snared at the near post.

O’Farrell had another good look for Florida Tech in the 87th minute, but Guzman was able to deflect a shot from the top of the box. The Panthers were able to kill off part of the remaining time with a pair of corner kicks before Luke Jenner won the ball near midfield in the final 20 seconds to give the Mocs one last chance. The Panthers though were able to defend it without giving up a shot.

“We battled hard tonight, and were in position to win, but we gave up a silly goal that should not have happened. But overall, I felt we played very well. We were able to open things up in the second half, and had a lot of chances to score, but just couldn’t convert.”

Florida Tech finished with a 17-13 edge in shots, but the Mocs had the better of it in the second half (8-6). The Mocs also forced Muhammad into a season-high four saves.

Florida Southern will be on the road for its next six games, starting Saturday night at Nova Southeastern, with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m.