Matteuzzi and Howard lead UNF<br>to 1-1 draw with USF - University of North Florida Athletics

Friday, August 22

Univ. of Tampa

5 p.m.

University of North Florida

1 (2OT)

University of South Florida

Senior Rachael Howard made 11 saves

Matteuzzi and Howard lead UNF
to 1-1 draw with USF

8/22/2008 7:44:40 PM | Women's Soccer

Matteuzzi scored her first collegiate goal

By: Adam Jonson, UNF Athletics

TAMPA, Fla. – Freshman Kristen Matteuzzi netted her first collegiate goal and senior Rachael Howard collected 11 saves for the University of North Florida on Friday night as the Lady Ospreys battled to a 1-1 double overtime time against the University of South Florida.

“What a tremendous thing to score a game-tying goal in your first collegiate game,” UNF head coach Linda Hamilton said. “Overall, the entire team should be proud of the way we played tonight.”

USF (0-0-1) took the lead just 10 minutes into the contest when a streaking Chelsea Klotz took a cross from Molly Stack and beat Howard to make the score 1-0. UNF (0-0-1), after trailing for 25 minutes, evened the score when Matteuzzi found the back of the net off a touch pass by junior Katelin Swift after senior Elizabeth Gowan started the attack with a beautiful cross.

“It was a great effort by Kristen and the whole team on that attack,” Hamilton said. “It was set up beautifully and executed extremely well.”

Despite allowing a goal, Howard put forth a terrific effort in goal for the Lady Ospreys, making three saves late in the match that kept the score knotted at one. With two and a half minutes to play in regulation, she leaped to her right and, fully stretched, knocked away a ball that would have found the top left corner of the net and given the Bulls a 2-1 advantage.

Less than 20 seconds later, Howard dove to her left, again robbing the Bulls of a potential game-winning goal. Finally, with less than one minute remaining in the second overtime, she denied USF the game-winner when she swatted the ball over the goal on a free kick from just outside the top of the box.

“Each of those final saves was absolutely necessary for her to make to preserve the tie,” Hamilton said. “Great players always make the big saves in clutch situations. Having a player of her caliber brings a certain calm to the whole team.”

The Lady Ospreys visit the College of Charleston on Sunday for a noon matchup. The game was originally scheduled to be played at UNF, but Tropical Storm Fay's rains forced the move. UNF will open its home slate on Sept. 7 against Florida International.