Tars and Panthers Tie in Playoff-esque Matchup

WINTER PARK, Fla. (September 13, 2023) - In a rematch of last year's Sweet 16, the Rollins Tars and the Florida Tech Panthers fought to a 3-3 draw on Wednesday evening. Rollins, ranked #12 in the country, moves to 2-0-2 on the year, while Tech, the #3 team in the country, sits at 3-0-2.

Rollins controlled all aspects of the game in the first twenty minutes, dominating ball control and keeping their own pace to the game. The first shot taken by either team was an absolute gem from Nazar Tsaruk, who volleyed a pass from Jorge Lameiras to himself, and then blasted the ball past Iker Bastida to give Rollins a 1-0 lead. Two minutes later, Tsaruk had another prime opportunity to score, but tis time Bastida was up to the task with a big save. 

Five minutes later, Lameiras found himself on the other side of a try, this time receiving a beautiful cross from Jari Polm and converting it into goal number two for the Tars. 

Things got dicey with only a few minutes until halftime. Tsaruk leaked out ahead of the defense, and looked ot have a great chance for another goal. This time, Bastida rushed out and met him at the ball, hitting him with a hard tackle that earned the keeper a red card and an ejection. Two yellow cards were assessed in the final 90 seconds of the half, where the Tars led 2-0 at the break.

Florida Tech came out with a new-found passion in the second half. after three yellows were handed out in the first four minutes of play, Tech got on the board when Filippo Fazzi bested Maximillian Obermeier on a rebound. Then, less than a minute later, Gene Lewis found enough space to rip a shot across the field from outside the box, sneaking it in just under the crossbar to tie the game. 

After three more yellows were dished out, the Panthers then took the lead in the 59th minute off another rebound to take the lead after their third-straight shorthanded goal. 

Things remained chippy on both sides as the tension grew on the field and in the stands. Another wave of yellows went against both teams as they battled each other. In the 70th minute, the Tars earned a free kick from just outside the box. Tsaruk stepped up and delivered a bending low ball that  found it's way off the right post and in the net to tie the game at three. 

Rollins went on the attack for the final twenty minutes, taking seven shots at the Panther goal, but they could not find the net as the game ended in a 3-3 draw. 

Tsaruk had two goals on three shots while playing 71 minutes. Lameiras had a goal and an assist in 81 minutes. 

A total of eleven yellows and one red card were given out in this match, which does not count toward the SSC standings. The official conference game between these two will take place on October 27th in Melbourne. 

Next up for Rollins is a home match with Tampa to open SSC play. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Saturday