Ospreys Topple Undefeated Stetson

Sunday, October 4

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

Stetson

10/4/2009 9:41:31 PM | Men's Soccer

UNF claimed their first win of the season defeating Stetson, 2-0.

By: UNF Athletics

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida men's soccer team collected its first win of the season and pulled even in Atlantic Sun Conference play as they beat previously undefeated Stetson, 2-0, on Sunday night at Hodges Stadium.

The Ospreys (1-8-0) scored a quick goal in the first half and never looked back as they improved to 1-1 in A-Sun play. The Hatters (7-1-1) dropped to 1-1 in the conference.

“We are a young team with really young guys,” head coach Ray Bunch remarked after the match. “The key was to get the first goal. If they had gotten the first goal, it could have been a different story tonight. This was a big match. They were undefeated and had beaten some really good teams. We have to make sure we don't stop at this one now. We need to take this confidence and move forward. We are 1-1 in the conference, but it doesn't get any easier. We just have to keep believing in ourselves.”

UNF wasted little time scoring the first goal. In the fifth minute of the match, junior Adam O'Neill scored his team-leading third goal of the season on a header that was crossed from sophomore Peter Lauer. Lauer edged his way down the sideline setting up a perfect cross for O'Neill's attack.

The North Florida defense stepped up big in the win as well. In the 22nd minute, the Hatter's Guilio D'Amor made a run up the middle for a one-on-one opportunity that brought UNF's sophomore goalkeeper Jullian Beau out of the box to stop his advance. D'Amor's crafty play surpassed Beau's attempt leaving a wide-open UNF goal. On sheer effort and hustle, freshman defender Aaron Levine was able to make a diving stop halting the Hatter's run and keeping the equalizer off the board.

In the second half, freshman Greg Crowell added an insurance goal. O'Neill took a corner kick for the Ospreys and put the ball in the middle of a scrum. Crowell collected the loose ball at point blank range and put it in the back of the net to increase the UNF advantage to 2-0.

The defense took over to preserve the shutout. Beau recorded six saves in the match en route to his first win of the season. The team also added a save, giving UNF seven saves on the night. Stetson attempted 14 shots on the evening but each attempt was turned away by the stout Osprey defense.

The Ospreys attempted 12 shots on the night with five shots on goal. Eight different UNF players had shots on the night with five players registering shots on goal.

North Florida will look to make it two in a row next weekend as the team travels across town to take on Jacksonville in a SunTrust River City Rumble matchup. The match between the two teams is slated for Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Ashley Sports Complex.