Ospreys Win First Half, Claim Match

Thursday, August 26

Jacksonville, Fla.

6 p.m.

University of North Florida

Middle Georgia (Exh.)

8/26/2010 9:47:42 PM | Men's Soccer

By: UNF Athletics

Boxscore

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida men's soccer team jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first half and hung on for a 4-2 victory over Middle Georgia in the first exhibition match of the 2010 season.

“I thought we played an excellent first half tonight,” head coach Ray Bunch stated after the match. “The best thing about tonight though was no one got hurt. Field conditions were not ideal. I think sitting for 45 minutes in the lockerroom took away some of our momentum that we had in the first half, but credit to Middle Georgia, they played an excellent match tonight, especially in the second half.”

The Ospreys were led by freshman Ricky Lawrence and senior captain Adam O'Neill. Both Lawrence and O'Neill each netted a pair of goals in the match and Lawrence added an assist on O'Neill's first goal.

All for goals for North Florida came in the first half as UNF dominated the first half of the match.

In the sixth minute of the match, Lawrence scored his first goal as an Osprey. The ball was deflected off of a Middle Georgia player straight to Lawrence. The freshman's ball sailed through the goalkeeper's hands and put UNF ahead 1-0.

In the 13th minute of the match, O'Neill put North Florida ahead 2-0. Lawrence sent a pass to O'Neill in the top of the box and the senior captain put the ball in the back of the net.

The scoring barrage continued with a goal in the 27th minute. Lawrence took a cross from Enrique Haeussler and beat the goalie for an easy tap in goal to give UNF a 3-0 cushion.

The final goal of the half came in the 41st minute as O'Neill converted a penalty kick after a foul in the box to provide the 4-0 advantage heading into halftime.

After an hour and 15 minute weather delay, the two teams took the field for the second half. Middle Georgia used the break to its advantage and came out firing.

The visiting team scored back-to-back goals in the second stanza to trim the UNF lead to 4-2, but the Ospreys defense was able to keep Middle Georgia out of the net to claim the two-goal victory.

North Florida returns to action on Sunday, Aug. 29, as the Ospreys take on Embry-Riddle in the final exhibition match of the season.