WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Palm Beach Atlantic women's soccer team dropped a home match to the Florida Tech Panthers 2-1 on Saturday night. The Sailfish (1-7-3) took the game down to the wire but didn't score an equalizer. Marina Leal scored her first goal of the season for the Sailfish. 

Florida Tech out-shot PBA 8-4 in the first half. Penalties and fouls cost the 'Fish early into the game. A foul near the box awarded the Panthers a penalty shot. FT's Mayara Queiros Reis buried the penalty shot that gave Florida Tech a 1-0 lead. Queiros Reis was the lone goal scorer for the Panthers.

In the 14th minute, the Panthers capitalized off a set piece. Halla Helgadottir kicked a free kick into the box to a Queiros Reis header. The header went into the right corner of the net and extended the Panthers' lead to 2-0. 

Down 2-0, the Sailfish clawed back. Leal's savvy goal came in the 40th minute, Florida Tech's defender passed the ball to their goalkeeper. Leal intercepted the pass and went right around FT's goalkeeper. Leal kicked her shot into the lower right side of the open net to cut into the deficit. Leal ranks third on the team in points this season with three. PBA trailed 2-1 at halftime. 

The 'Fish had a few opportunities for an equalizer in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Leal's header went wide right. Three minutes later Anna Vila launched a shot that was saved by FT's goalkeeper. In the 75th minute, Alyana Gonel took a shot inside the box that was saved by FT's goalkeeper.

In the match's closing seconds, the 'Fish threatened for an equalizer one last time. PBA threw the ball in and Michaela Boyd crossed it near the net. Erin Cepeda kicked a shot that bounced off a Florida Tech defender in the closing seconds. A handball was not called as 2-1 was the final score. 

Next, PBA hosts two matches next week at the Rinker Athletic Campus. PBA faces Lynn on Wednesday, Oct. 19, and Rollins on Saturday, Oct. 22.