MELBOURNE, Fla. (Women’s Soccer) – Florida Tech scored 19 minutes into the game to end its long scoreless drought that began on Sept. 15. The Panthers added a second goal late in the first half to shutout Florida Southern by a score of 2-0 on Saturday for their first conference win of the season.

“The most important thing is that we came away with three points today,” head coach Fidgi Haig said of the first conference win. “It was a great effort by our defenders to keep a clean sheet.”

It took 346 minutes for Florida Tech (5-3-2, 1-2-2 SSC) to score its second goal in conference play. The Panthers’ last goal was scored in the 73rd minute of the conference opener at Nova Southeastern on Sept. 15.

That second goal came in the 19th minute.

Junior Carly Hunt dribbled the ball down the right side, hugging the sideline. Hunt, all alone, sent a cross into the six-yard box. Without a bounce, the ball found the right foot of Erika Forsberg, who was streaking in from the left side. Forsberg lifted her right leg and struck the ball into the right side of the net to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

In the 42nd minute, FIT extended its lead. Forsberg sent a pass in from the left side to find Kelly Whittaker just outside of the 18-yard box. Whittaker struck the ball with her left foot from the left corner of the box, beating the keeper, to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead at the break. Whittaker finished the game with eight shots, four on goal.

Florida Southern (3-5-1, 1-1-0 SSC) was only able to get five shots, one on goal, in the second half. FIT finished the game with a 25-8 advantage in shots.

Paige Redmon (3-2-0) earned her second shutout of the season, making two saves.

Forsberg, now with six goals on the season, collected her conference leading fourth game-winning goal of the season.

“We have a week off now until our next game against Tampa,” Haig said. “We will prepare for them over that span. It will be a big game.”

FIT will not step back onto the pitch until Saturday, Oct. 6 when it travels to No. 15 Tampa. It will be the second meeting between the Panthers and the Spartans this season. FIT took the first game by a score of 1-0 at Rick Stottler Field on Sept. 12. The second go-around will count as a conference match. The teams will square off at 5 p.m.

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