Ospreys Down Kennesaw State in A-Sun Quarters

Saturday, October 27

Kennesaw, GA

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

8-9-2, 5-3-1

Kennesaw State

10-8-1, 6-2-1

North Florida

Kennesaw State

Photo by: JD Hysler

10/27/2012 10:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: UNF Athletics

KENNESAW, Ga. -- The University of North Florida women's soccer team used a pair of first-half goals to cruise to a 3-1 victory at Kennesaw State in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Sun Tournament on Saturday evening.

“This was a great win for us,” Head Coach Linda Hamilton said. “To play on the road in the tournament and play one of our best games of the season shows how hard this team has worked this year.”

The Ospreys were on the offensive from the onset of the match, holding the Owls without a shot until the 35th minute of the game. In that time, UNF tallied just a pair of shots, but constantly threatened, racking up four corner kicks.

Junior forward Lauren Hopfensperger got the scoring started early in that offensive run, heading home a goal in the sixth minute. After junior Thea Linkfield's header of junior Keara Murphy's corner kick was saved, Hopfensperger nodded the rebound into the net to put UNF up 1-0 early.

After the teams vied for control of the midfield for much of the first half, sophomore Alexi Zaremba doubled the Ospreys' lead in the 37th minute with the help of the woodwork. After collecting the ball 35 yards from the net, Zaremba launched a shot that struck the right post before bouncing off the back of KSU goalkeeper Lauren Roberts before sliding into the goal, giving the Ospreys a 2-0 lead.

When the teams went into halftime, the teams were fairly even on the scoresheet, as Kennesaw State held a 5-4 advantage in shots, while the Ospreys had taken four corner kicks to the Owls' three.

The opening of the second half was much more open, as the two squads combined for six shots in the first 12 minutes.

Although the Owls had a handful of chances in the second half, senior Michele Larrinaga essentially sealed the victory with a goal in the 69th minute. Larrinaga stole a pass in the offensive third, dribbled into the box and lofted a shot into the top of the goal to put UNF up 3-0.

Kennesaw State threatened multiple times in the closing minutes and finally snared a goal in the 83rd minute. Jewelia Strickland cut the deficit to 3-1 when she lofted a 40-yard free kick just under the cross bar.

“We just did all the little things tonight,” Hamilton said. “We committed to defense as a team and just played a very complete game on the road against a quality opponent.”

The UNF defense held fast throughout the match, allowing just two shots on goal on the evening. Senior goalkeeper Brittany Hahn only needed to make one save for the Ospreys to earn the victory. Roberts recorded four saves for the Owls.

With the victory, the Ospreys advance to the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Tournament for the second consecutive year, where they will face Mercer at 4 p.m. on Friday, November 2nd.