Ospreys win OT thriller

Tuesday, October 30

Jacksonville, Fla.

7:00 PM

University of North Florida

UCF

Akil DeFreitas

10/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

UNF gets 3-2 win over UCF on goal by Akil DeFreitas

Oct. 30, 2007

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida men's soccer was forced to battle back from a pair of second-half deficits against in-state foe UCF on Tuesday night at Hodges Stadium. In overtime, the Ospreys didn't allow enough time for a repeat.

UNF (8-8-0) needed just 27 seconds into the extra period to end the game and send the sizable "Senior Night" crowd home happy with a 3-2 win over the Golden Knights (4-11-1).

Junior Shareef Rajkumar dribbled through traffic and found an open Akil DeFreitas waiting, who delivered a strike to the right corner to end the game. The assist was Rajkumar's second of the night and helped UNF end the season at home with 4-2 record.

"This was probably the most entertaining game of the last couple of years for our team," UNF head coach Ray Bunch said. "I was really proud of our guys for coming back after going down twice. Shareef really made a difference when came on and started taking people on. You always want to win on Senior Night, and especially for our two seniors (Martin Schuhte and Mark Sergio). They have been great student-athletes for us and have led us through this Division I transition. It was great to see their home careers end with a game like this."

Not all the news was jovial on Tuesday for UNF, which learned before the game that the father of junior midfielder Samir Plavotic had passed away. Plavotic was with his family in St. Petersburg, Fla., at gametime but was not out of his teammates minds, Bunch said.

"We had very heavy hearts going into this game because of Samir and what he is dealing with right now," Bunch said. "Our prayers are with him and his family, and he was always in my thoughts tonight."

After a scoreless first half, in which the Golden Knights dominated possession and offensive chances, both squads went to work offensively in the second half. UCF took the early advantage in the 63rd minute on a goal by Mike Mattson, but the Ospreys answered two minutes later on a pass from Schuhte to freshman Adam O'Neill to knot the score at 1.

Nathaniel Jocelyn then delivered the strike of the night from 40 yards out, sending an unassisted screamer past a diving Andrew Calise to push the Golden Knights back in front 2-1 in the 77th minute. Once again, the Ospreys had an answer, however, with Oscar Ortiz taking a pass from Rajkumar four minutes later and delivering a rebound shot close to the goal to knot the score 2-2.

UNF had two close looks in regulation but couldn't find the net, forcing the overtime period. UNF, which has won four of its last five games, is 2-2 in overtime this season.

DeFreitas led UNF with five shots, including three on goal, while O'Neill added three and Ortiz two. Calise tallied eight saves in going the distance in goal for the Ospreys. UCF's Sean Johnson allowed all three goals and had three saves in a complete game.

"My heart goes out to UCF," Bunch said. "When teams play such a good game, you hate to see anyone lose. We have had a few like this on the other side this season. I guess they even out over time."

UNF closes its 2007 season -- and its third year in the four-year transition to Division I -- on Saturday at Coastal Carolina. Game time is set for 11 a.m.