WINTER PARK, Fla. (October 1, 2008) – With a turnaround in
play to bring on a strong second half, the tenth ranked Rollins
women's soccer team pulled ahead of the Florida Tech Panthers in a
2-1 victory Wednesday night at Barker Family Stadium and
Cahall-Sandspur Field. The Tars stay undefeated on the season with
the victory, pulling ahead to (9-0-1), (2-0-0) in Sunshine State
Conference play, while the Panthers accept their second straight
conference defeat and drop to (9-3-0), (1-2-0) in conference
action.
With an unassisted goal from Joy
Powell as well as a tally from Lindsay
Giblin off of a Leah
Hirsch assist, the Tars were able to pull ahead of Florida Tech
in the second half to keep their undefeated 2008 campaign alive.
Freshman goalkeeper Michelle
Dillingham saw plenty of action for the Tars, making five saves
in the first half and seeing 13 overall shots from FIT throughout
the contest.
The first half remained scoreless until Florida Tech was able to
get on the scoreboard in the 43 minute. As a one-touch forward
pass from Paula Lillsjo met its mark on Therese Svensson,
Dillingham started to come out of goal and Svensson fired a long
shot from 30 yards out to put the first point up on the board.
At the halftime mark, the Tars were still trailing 1-0, and with
the tempo largely controlled by FIT in the first half it was
anyone's guess as to how second half play would open up. The
Panthers led the first period in shots firing off a total of seven,
six of which were on goal, all the while keeping play in their
offensive end and holding Rollins to only two shots in the first 45
minutes of the contest.
The Tars came out of the break with all pistons firing, taking
over the tempo of the game and looking like a completely different
team. Powell was able to score the equalizer in the 57 minute
after collecting a loose ball off of a failed clear, firing from
ten yards out and squeezing the ball past FIT goalkeeper Melissa
Pyles to put the scoreboard at 1-1.
Rollins continued to control the level of play throughout the
second half, as the offense put the pressure on and the back line
held the Panther forwards to only six shots, none of which were on
goal.
Giblin was finally able to get the game-winning tally in the 81
minute as Hirsch collected a loose ball within the box and kept
possession as she danced around a wall of defenders. With a quick
look to find an open Giblin on the left side of the box, Hirsch
found her mark and Giblin one-touched the ball past Pyles to give
Rollins the lead for the first time all game. The Tars were able
to hold back the Panthers in the remaining minutes to walk away
with their ninth win of the season.
Florida Tech led the match in overall shots 13-8, as well as
shots on goal with six compared to the Tars' two. A strong back
line of Meagan
Thomas, Maia
Ryan, Dana
Merrill, and Leah
Hirsch was able to keep FIT from firing a shot on goal in the
second period, and anchored the Tars in strong second half action.
Rollins led the board in corner kicks 8-4, as well as saves 5-0 as
Pyles was unable to grab a save in the final 45 minutes.
The tenth ranked Rollins women's soccer team will travel to West
Palm Beach, Fla. for their next game on Saturday, October 4, in a
5:00 p.m. non-conference matchup against the Palm Beach Atlantic
Sailfish. Fans can listen to all of the action live on the
Citizen's Bank of Florida Tars Sports Network at www.RollinsSports.com.
