Tobias Vik Asbo scored in the 49th minute, and the Florida Tech men’s soccer team defeated Eckerd College 1-0 in Sunshine State Conference play Saturday at Johnson Field in Saint Petersburg. Simeon Weber assisted on the winning goal as Florida Tech held Eckerd without a shot on target. The Panthers recorded their fourth clean sheet of the season.
Florida Tech improved to 5-1-3 overall and 3-0-1 in conference play. Eckerd College fell to 2-7-0 overall and 0-4-0 in Sunshine State Conference matches. Florida Tech finished with four shots on goal, while Eckerd had none.
Florida Tech Creates Early Opportunities
Florida Tech produced the first chance three minutes into the match when Tommaso Casadei’s effort in traffic was saved. In the 19th minute, Nikolai Gabrielsen hit the crossbar, and the rebound fell to Daniele Aracri, whose follow-up shot went wide. Eckerd’s first attempt came in the 27th minute, but the long-range effort went over the crossbar.
Florida Tech nearly took the lead with five minutes remaining before halftime after a counterattack, but the Eckerd goalkeeper stopped the play before the Panthers could take a shot. Eckerd had one more attempt before the interval, and that effort also went over the bar.
Vik Asbo Breaks Through After Halftime
Florida Tech took the lead four minutes after halftime. Weber controlled a deflected cross and found Asbo at the top of the area, where Asbo struck the ball first time and sent it just over the goalkeeper.
The goal was the second of Asbo’s Florida Tech career, and both of his goals have come against Eckerd College. Weber’s assist was his first goal contribution for Florida Tech. Weber nearly added another goal in the 64th minute, but his far-post header from a corner was denied.
Two minutes later, Caio Amorim de Deus had a far-post header from a corner cleared off the goal line. Victor Thompson sent another opportunity wide shortly afterward, and Aracri later had a chance to put the match away, but the Eckerd goalkeeper parried his shot with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Eckerd nearly equalized on the ensuing possession, but its volley went wide. The Tritons had two more opportunities during the final seven minutes, but neither was put on target. Florida Tech’s defense preserved the 1-0 result.
Ronning Orn Reaches Career Milestones
Elias Ronning Orn recorded his sixth career clean sheet and earned his 13th career win for Florida Tech. The victory moved him past Luis Tovar Romero for the second-most wins by a Florida Tech goalkeeper in the 2020s.
Florida Tech also extended its all-time advantage over Eckerd College to 30-10-3. The Panthers are 13-4-3 all-time against Eckerd in Saint Petersburg.
What Comes Next
Florida Tech will play at Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in Daytona Beach. The Sunshine State Conference matchup is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
FSB Take
Florida Tech’s defense supplied a fourth clean sheet of the season, and Asbo’s second career goal against Eckerd provided the difference. The Panthers enter their next conference matchup at 3-0-1 in league play and 5-1-3 overall.
Source: Original report