UNF, Lipscomb battle to scoreless tie

Sunday, October 26

Nashville, Tenn.

1 p.m.

University of North Florida

0 (2OT)

Lipscomb University

Freshman Denisse Soltero played all 110 minutes and took five shots

10/26/2008 4:57:52 PM | Women's Soccer

UNF closes its season at Jacksonville on Thursday at 7 p.m.

By: Adam Jonson, UNF Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the second time during the 2008 University of North Florida women's soccer season, 110 minutes of play were not enough for a decision, and the Lady Ospreys posted a 0-0 double-overtime tie against Lipscomb on Sunday afternoon in Atlantic Sun Conference action.

UNF (6-10-2, 3-5-1 A-Sun) fired 29 total shots with 13 on frame, compared to 11 total shots and five shots on goal by Lipscomb (2-6-2, 4-11-3). The Lady Ospreys outshot the Bisons 8-5 in the first half before exploding for 15 shots in the second half.

“I'm really proud of the girls and the way the played today,” UNF head coach Linda Hamilton said. “Sometimes it's hard to find that back of the net. We just missed the final step of putting the ball in the goal but I felt like we did a great job of setting up our scoring opportunities.”

Senior Elizabeth Gowan headed the offensive attack for UNF, taking eight total shots, with five on goal. Freshmen Denisse Soltero and Vladana Petricevic each took five shots with four and two on goal, respectively.

UNF senior keeper Erica Lippitt made five saves in the contest to post her second shutout of the season.

“I think this was Erica's best game of the season,” Hamilton said. “She came out well on crosses and made some crucial saves. Her play really kept us in the match and I'm extremely proud of her performance.”

The Lady Ospreys put the pressure on Lipscomb keeper Katie Shelton all afternoon, forcing Shelton to make 13 saves to avoid suffering a loss. UNF fired six shots in the two overtime periods, but four saves by Shelton, a shot that went wide right and a shot that sailed high kept the Lady Ospreys from netting the golden goal.

Taking eight corner kicks in the first half, UNF totaled 10 in the match, while Lipscomb took five. The Lady Ospreys were called for 16 fouls and two offsides infractions, and the Bisons were tagged with 11 fouls.

The season comes to a close for UNF on Thursday night, when the Lady Ospreys travel across town for a SunTrust River City Rumble against Jacksonville at 7 p.m.

“I think this is a great rivalry and it seems to always be a tight match,” Hamilton said. “We obviously want to close out the season on a high note, but there are also a year's worth of bragging rights on the line.”