Lady Ospreys stall Stetson in OT win

Sunday, October 12

Jacksonville, Fla.

2 p.m.

University of North Florida

1 (OT)

Stetson University

Senior Elizabeth Gowan scored her first goal of the season

10/12/2008 5:54:01 PM | Women's Soccer

UNF hosts Campbell on Saturday at 3 p.m.

By: Adam Jonson, UNF Athletics

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Trailing by one goal with less than seven minutes left to play in Sunday's Atlantic Sun Conference women's soccer match, the University of North Florida mounted a late surge to stall Stetson, 2-1, in overtime and improve its record at Hodges Stadium to 4-1.

“We responded well in the second half after being down by a goal heading into the break,” UNF head coach Linda Hamilton said. “We believed we could win the match and knew we had to give it everything we had.”

UNF (6-8-1, 3-3-0 A-Sun) took only four of its 15 total shots in the first half while Stetson (5-6-2, 3-2-0) fired eight shots in the first half. Tessa Gavilsky broke away from the pack in the 37^th minute and took a shot from 10 yards, which Lady Osprey senior keeper Erica Lippitt rejected. However, Lippitt could not control the ball and Gavilsky rebounded and netted it to give the Hatters a 1-0 advantage.

In the second half, the Lady Ospreys controlled the pace of the match and limited the Hatters to just four shots with only one on goal. UNF took four shots on goal in the second half.

“At halftime, I think we realized that we were capable of winning this match,” Hamilton said. “After suffering a loss on Friday, I feel we lacked some confidence coming into today. The win helps us realize that even when we have a bad game or get beat by a better team, we can come back strong and that we have the weapons to win matches.”

In the 84^th minute, freshman Denisse Soltero made a move to beat her defender and attacked into the box, where she was fouled from behind, setting up a penalty kick for the Lady Ospreys. Senior Elena Luzins fooled Hatter keeper Andrea Garavaglia on the penalty kick to even the score at 1-1 and send the match into overtime.

Each team took one shot in the extra time but it was UNF's shot that decided the outcome. A little more than five minutes into the first overtime period, senior Elizabeth Gowan fired a free kick from 35 yards that found the top of the net, just over Garavaglia's hands. The goal was Gowan's first of the season.

“It feels good to finally score,” Gowan said. “I have taken shots that have hit the post and crossbar, and some of those have been put in by others on our team, but it's nice to finally get one.”

Gowan took three total shots, two on goal, while junior Katelin Swift fired five shots with two on goal and Luzins and Soltero each took two shots.

Lippitt finished with six saves in the contest and Garavaglia made four saves. The loss snapped a three-game skid for the Lady Ospreys and a three-game winning streak for the Hatters.

UNF returns to action on its home field for its final home match of the season on Saturday when it hosts Campbell at 3 p.m.

“We have really enjoyed playing in front of our own fans this season,” Hamilton said. “Hopefully, we can come out on Saturday and be the best we have all season.”