Women’s Soccer Ends Road Trip in Rumble

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The University of North Florida women's soccer team will play its last two Atlantic Sun Conference road matches of the year this weekend. The Ospreys begin the road trip against Campbell on Saturday, Oct. 17, in Buise Creek, N.C., followed by the SunTrust River City Rumble match-up against Jacksonville on Monday, Oct. 19, at the Ashley Soccer Complex on JU's campus.

The Ospreys (5-8-2, A-Sun 2-3-1) are currently tied for eighth place with seven points, but are one spot back of an A-Sun tournament berth because Florida Gulf Coast is ineligible for A-Sun tournament play.

“At this point we are still very much in the race, we are ready and focused on Campbell,” said head coach Linda Hamilton. “We need to go out there and take care of business, and handle what has been laid before us. We need to play our best game and carry the momentum from our tie with Florida Gulf Coast into this match.”

Campbell (9-6-0, A-Sun 4-2-0) sits in third with 12 points. The all-time series record between Campbell and UNF is tied at 2-2. The last time UNF was in North Carolina in 2007 the Ospreys won 2-1. In 2008, the Ospreys lost to the Camels 2-1 off of a corner kick that came in the second minute of overtime.

This year the Camels have improved their goal total to 19 compared to last year's 13. Olga Ekblom leads the Camels with five goals and 12 points and has helped them to a three-game winning streak. On Thursday, Oct. 15, Jacksonville will take on the Camels and will have a three day break until their contest against UNF. The Ospreys will only have a day to recuperate from Saturday's match in North Carolina before their rumble at JU.

Monday night will feature the five-year anniversary of the SunTrust River City Rumble between UNF and JU. Even though this is the fifth year these two teams have battled in the same conference and for the coveted, “SunTrust Old Wooden Barrel,” this will be the first year where the Ospreys will be fighting for a bid into the A-Sun tournament.

“This match is always important but this River City Rumble will be significant to both teams. JU and us are both fighting for a spot in the tournament,” said Hamilton. “This match not only will be a great game emotionally but could possibly come down to whoever wins will clinch a spot in the conference tournament.”

UNF's men's soccer team beat JU last Saturday on the Dolphin's home turf and it will be the women's goal come Monday. The Ospreys have battled the crosstown rival seven times and has come away victorious three times. Last year's contest ended in a 1-0 win for Jacksonville after both teams ended the match with ten players due to red cards. This year, JU's leading scorer is Eva Leeper, who has five goals, three assists and 13 points.

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