Box Score LAKELAND – Despite out-shooting Florida Tech 19-6, an own goal with 19:01 remaining allowed the Panthers to escape with a 1-0 win over Florida Southern Saturday night at Barnett Field.
SNIEGOSKI SAYS
"Soccer is a cruel game sometimes. I am very proud of the boys for the effort that they put forward tonight. We had more than enough chances to win the game but when you don't put those chances away, results like this can happen. I give a ton of credit to Florida Tech and their coaching staff for finding a way to win. We will be back tomorrow and move forward to accomplishing our goals."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Moccasins (5-4-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the Sunshine State Conference) out-shot the Panthers 8-1 in the first half and 11-5 in the second half but Christian Moerch kept them off the scoreboard with six saves.
- Florida Tech (7-2-1, 5-2 SSC) did not have a shot until 1:38 remained in the first half. Adin Kavara had an open look from the top center of the 18-yard box but put a line drive right at FSC goalkeeper Cole Clingerman.
- Florida Tech had two shots in the first two minutes of the second half, with one of those another attempt by Kavara that was saved, but then took only three more the rest of the night.
- The only goal of the match was scored when a long free kick taken by Brandon Smalley was headed backward into the goal by a Moccasin defender.
- In taking the first eight shots of the game, Florida Southern had a series of near misses by Jacob Ling-Vannerus, Joseph Ammer, Florian Thumm, Edward Spansk, Rene Rivera and Dani Morillo. The shot by Morillo was blocked inside the box by Florida Tech defender Stian Tsesmetsis.
- A few minutes before the own goal, Smalley nearly broke the deadlock in the 61st minute but Clingerman made a leaping save on his shot and the ball deflected off the crossbar.
- In the final 15 minutes, the Mocs had two free kicks that led to headers by Daniel Moore and Ling-Vannerus, but each was wide or high.
- Carl Spansk had a shot blocked outside the box in the final three seconds that was the last taken by Florida Southern.
- Clingerman finished with four saves, and Ling-Vannerus led the Mocs with five shots to match his season high.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Saturday night was Florida Southern's first loss at home this year. The Mocs are now 3-1-1 at Barnett Field.
- The last seven meetings between Florida Southern and Florida Tech have been decided by one goal or ended in a tie. Three of those have been 1-0 games (Florida Tech has won two of them) after the teams had played only one 1-0 game in their first 45 encounters.
- Florida Tech is 29-19-4 against the Moccasins all-time, but since 2000, the Mocs are 10-6-2 in the series.
- The six shots allowed by the Mocs marked the second time this year they've held an opponent to single digits. The first time was in the season-opening 5-0 win over Warner. The Mocs' starting back line on Saturday was Callum Carsley, Luke Bromley, Daniel Moore and Nick Atwood.
- Clingerman has now started 51 games in his career, leaving him two shy of the school's career record for a goalkeeper held by Clint Harris who played at FSC from 2002-05.
- Florida Tech won its third 1-0 game of the season.
UP NEXT
- Florida Southern will play a non-conference match Tuesday night, hosting Flagler College with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
