Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla – A game-tying goal by NJIT (7-5-4, 3-2-1 ASUN) with 8:49 left in regulation led to a 1-1 tie in North Florida's final regular season home game of 2016. The first place Ospreys still sit atop the ASUN standings with a 4-0-1 record in league play and have a chance to clinch the 2016 regular season title on Saturday with a win of FGCU loss or draw.
Goals
39' – UNF:
Micah Smoak (Unassisted)
82' – NJIT: Juan Zapata (Assist: Phillip Costa)
Match Summary
The first half of play belonged to the Ospreys who owned a 5-2 shot advantage and eventually resulted in the game's first goal. In the 39
th minute,
Mikey Connell was fouled from behind and resulted in a free kick opportunity for the Ospreys just outside the 18-yard box. Head Coach
Derek Marinatos called on
Micah Smoak to take the free kick attempt and he buried his fourth goal of the year inside the left post.
The script flipped in the final 45 minutes of regulation as it was the Highlanders who had a 5-2 shot advantage. Their final shot of the half came off the foot of Juan Zapata who converted a Phillip Costa cross from the far left side for his first goal of the year.
The two overtime periods yielded just one shot, a blocked attempt off the Ospreys'
Glenn Johnson in the first 10-minute session. For the game, the Ospreys held an 8-7 edge in shots and each goalkeeper was credited with a save.
Additional Game Notes
-North Florida attempted nine corner kicks compared to three by NJIT
-The game saw a total of 38 fouls and nine yellow cards were issued
-The tie extends the Osprey unbeaten streak at home to 13 games. They finish the year, 4-0-2 at Hodges Stadium. In the past two seasons the Ospreys are 8-1-2 against ASUN opponents at home.
-The Ospreys are still in the driver's seat in terms of playoff seeding. A win against USC Upstate on Saturday clinches the ASUN Regular Season Championship and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. An FGCU loss or draw also clinches the top sport for North Florida.
-One thing is for certain, the Ospreys will be either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the ASUN tournament thanks to the one point earned by the draw this afternoon.
From Coach Marinatos
On the gameplay
"I have to give credit to NJIT, they defend with a lot of guys behind the ball and made it tough on our attackers. They are a big, physical team that worked hard to get a point today. I do think we did a poor job managing the game and playing with a lead in the second half."
Looking forward
"At the end of the day, we still control our own destiny and one of the goals from the beginning is to win the ASUN Regular Season Championship outright and we still have a chance to do that."
Up Next: The Ospreys will play their final game of the regular season at USC Upstate on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
