Women's Soccer Wins A-Sun Opener at Lipscomb

Friday, September 21

Nashville, TN

8 p.m.

University of North Florida

3-6-1, 1-0-0ASUN

Lipscomb

2-5-2, 0-1-0ASUN

North Florida

Lipscomb

Photo by: Todd Drexler

9/21/2012 9:57:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: UNF Athletics

Box Score (PDF)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Junior midfielder Heather Botelho scored the game-winner in the 84th minute to give the University of North Florida women's soccer team a 3-2 victory over Lipscomb on Friday evening. It was both teams' first Atlantic Sun Conference game of the season.

The Ospreys grabbed the victory after coming back from a one-goal deficit on two occasions. Seven different UNF players tallied a shot on goal and five Ospreys notched at least two.

“It's great to start out conference play with a road win,” Head Coach Linda Hamilton said. “Lipscomb played very well tonight, and to come here and earn a victory is very important for us going forward.”

Though UNF earned a pair of shots on goal in the first eight minutes, Lipscomb was able to score the opener in the 11th minute, as Baylee Linnell nodded home a corner kick from Caroline Chadwell to put the Bisons up 1-0.

Junior forward Thea Linkfield grabbed the equalizer for the Ospreys just 10 minutes later. After a corner kick was played into the area and a rebound came off the crossbar, Botelho was able to poke the ball free in traffic to Linkfield, who was able to finish from close range to score her team-leading fourth goal of the season and tie the match at 1-1.

The Bisons were able to take the lead before halftime, as Chadwell and Linnell combined on another goal. Off a throw-in, Chadwell was able to collect a pass from Linnell about 12 yards from the net and put Lipscomb back on top, 2-1, in the 38th minute.

Despite the scoreline, the Ospreys held a 7-4 advantage in shots and had forced six saves out of Lipscomb goalkeeper Erin Zerio.

UNF came out of halftime on the attack, tallying five shots on goal in the first 11 minutes of the second period. The flurry of offense culminated with senior forward Michele Larrinaga tying the game at 2-2 in the 56th minute. Linkfield grabbed her first assist of the season, playing a ball in from the left side that Larrinaga finished for her second goal of the season.

Botelho notched the game-winner in the 84th minute off a pass from junior forward Lauren Hopfensperger, blasting the ball into the net from the top of the penalty area to put the Ospreys on top for good. It was the fourth goal of the junior's career and her first of the season.

After a close-knit first half, UNF spent much of the second period on the offensive, tallying 13 second-half shots to Lipscomb's two, giving the Ospreys a 20-6 advantage for the match. UNF also drew seven fouls out of Lipscomb in the final period, while committing just three.

Sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Beninati tallied one save for the Ospreys in the win, while Zerio made 10 for Lipscomb on the evening.

“The team hung in there and played great,” Hamilton said. “There are certainly things we have to work on, but I'm really proud of the way this team battled tonight.”

With the victory, the Ospreys move to 3-6-1 on the season and start A-Sun play with a 1-0 mark. Lipscomb falls to 2-5-2 and is 0-1 in the conference.

UNF is next in action on Sunday, when they travel to Northern Kentucky for their first-ever match with the A-Sun newcomers. The match is set to kick off at noon, EST. A link to live stats will be available on UNFOspreys.com.