University of North Florida
Evansville
MEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY:
Ospreys on the road again
9/9/2008 2:04:17 PM | Men's Soccer
UNF travels to the Evansville ProRehab Classic this weekend
Schedule
UNF (1-2-0) travels to
The Ospreys wrap up play in the Evansville ProRehab Classic against No. 17 Bradley (2-1-1) on Sunday, Sept. 12 at noon. The Braves made an appearance in the NCAA Elite 8 last season. The meeting will be the first between BU and UNF.
Week Recap
In its only match of the week, UNF outlasted Gardner-Webb, 3-2, in a double-overtime battle. Sophomore Adam O'Neill netted the golden goal on a penalty kick with a little more than five minutes left to play.
Who's Hot
Three Ospreys scored in Sunday's match – O'Neill, sophomore Akil DeFreitas and senior Mikhail Awai. Freshman Theo Fulger assisted on the goal by Awai.
In addition to scoring the game-winner, O'Neill took the corner kick that began the attack to score UNF's second goal of the match. His corner kick from the right side was headed by Fulger before Awai volleyed the ball past Gardner-Webb's keeper.
DeFreitas scored his first and the team's first goal of the season in the 26th minute against Gardner-Webb. He dribbled the ball over 30 yards down the right side of the field and fired the ball from 10 yards. In the second overtime, he slipped through the Bulldog defense and found himself in a one-on-one situation with the GWU keeper. However, a Bulldog defender pulled DeFreitas down from behind, setting up the penalty kick.
Record Watch
After just one season as an Osprey, sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Calise has already made his mark on the UNF men's soccer record book. His 96 saves last season rank fourth on the individual season record list and sixth on the career list. With 26 saves, he can move into second place all-time and needs 187 to become UNF's saves leader. He posted four shutouts in 2007, which is sixth-best all-time and fifth for a single season. His name also appears in both the single season and career lists for save percentage and goals against average.
Sophomore forward Akil DeFreitas netted four game-winning goals last season and needs just four more in his career to become UNF's all-time leader in that category. The same stat ranks him first for an individual season (tied with A.J. Romano).
Quotables
Head coach Ray Bunch on this weekend's competition: “This is a very tough place to go play.
Bunch on the amount of travel over the past two weeks: “It takes a toll on the guys and it is very exhausting. But when we are eligible for postseason next year and we start striving to make it deep into the postseason, a lot of travel will be required. So this is a good way for the players to become familiar with that routine.”
Bunch's thoughts on the home opener: “Winning the first home game is very important. It builds some confidence for the team and gives the fans something to come back for the next time we play at home.”
Bunch's other thoughts: “All of the guys are starting to get on the same page. We are still hurting a bit from missing so much of our preseason time due to tropical storm Fay. Missing our preseason game and a week of on-the-field preparations forced us to use the opening games to work on tactics and formations. Now the guys are getting a feel for one another and learning how to play with each other.”
