University of North Florida
GARDNER-WEBB
Ospreys open A-Sun 2-0
9/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 30, 2007
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The University of North Florida men's soccer team battled through a steady rain and a strong attack by Atlantic Sun Conference foe Gardner-Webb to post a 1-0 win on Sunday afternoon at Hodges Stadium.
The win was the second straight to open A- Sun play for the Ospreys (3-4-0, 2-0-0 A-Sun), who posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since 2002. Six of UNF's seven matches this season have been decided by a single goal.
Against GWU (0-8-1, 0-2-0 A-Sun), the Ospreys collected the game's only score in the 24th minute on a strike from freshman Adam O'Neill. The Englishman took a cross from teammate Akil DeFreitas and delivered it into the left corner of the net past a diving GWU goalie Dane Geraci to account for his second game-winner of the season.
GWU outshot UNF 17-12, including a 12-6 margin in the first half, but the Runnin' Bulldogs could never capitalize on their opportunities or solve UNF's pesky back line. GWU had a pair of point-blank shots misfire in the final six minutes but failed to convert. UNF freshman goalie Andrew Calise recorded his third shutout of the season in net for the Ospreys with five of his six saves coming in the first half.
"We had a chance to wrap the game up early in the second half but we misfired on some really good chances," UNF head coach Ray Bunch said. "We put undo pressure on ourselves by not doing that. I give Gardner-Webb a lot of credit for fighting back and giving themselves a chance. We just have to start putting teams away and be more clinical at the end of games. We kept a clean slate (shutout) for the second consecutive game, though, so I have to be happy with that."
O'Neill led UNF with five shots, while DeFretias added three. Seven of UNF's 12 shots were on goal.
The Ospreys return to action next week in a pair of A-Sun road matches, traveling to play Mercer on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Macon, Ga., and then facing Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C., on Saturday at 4 p.m. Thursday's match will be carried live via ASUN.TV.
