#MSOC Returns Home to Face USC Upstate

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of North Florida men's soccer team continues Atlantic Sun Conference play with a single match this weekend against USC Upstate on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Patton Park.

North Florida enters the weekend with a 4-4-2 overall record, while USC Upstate is 0-7-2 on the year. The two teams post identical A-Sun records at 0-2-1. The Spartans play Jacksonville on Thursday night before taking on the Ospreys on Saturday afternoon.

USC Upstate holds a 10-5-1 overall record over North Florida. Last season, the Spartans won their second match in a row over the Ospreys, posting a 4-1 victory in Spartanburg. Prior to Upstates' two victories, North Florida had posted four consecutive wins over USC Upstate, outscoring the Spartans 10-3 during the stretch.

The Ospreys enter the weekend with a .500 record. UNF opened the season with its best start in school history, going 4-0-1. North Florida started the season winning the Mike Gibbs Memorial Tournament, defeating Western Illinois (W, 2-1) and playing Valparaiso to a draw (T, 1-1 ot2). The Ospreys rattled off three consecutive wins against UCF (1-0 ot), UNC Asheville (W, 4-1) and FIU (W, 1-0). North Florida stumbled the next three matches, falling to FAU (L, 3-2 ot), Wofford (L, 2-0) and East Tennessee State (L, 1-0) before tying Northern Kentucky (T, 1-1) on the road. The Ospreys concluded the road trip with Lipscomb, dropping a 1-0 decision.

The Spartans opened the season with three consecutive losses against Presbyterian (L, 4-3 ot), Gardner-Webb (L, 2-0) and UNC Asheville (L, 2-1). Upstate tied Appalachian State (T, 1-1 ot2) on the road, but then dropped three more consecutive matches to Wofford (L, 3-1), Clemson (L, 2-0) and Mercer (L, 3-1). The Spartans played Stetson to a 0-0 draw in double overtime before falling to Florida Gulf Coast (L, 3-0) to enter the week 0-7-2 overall.

North Florida is 2-1-1 overall at home this season, while USC Upstate is 0-4-1 on the road.

The Ospreys are led offensively by Alex Morrell. The sophomore currently leads the team with seven points, just ahead of fellow sophomore Jean Rivaroli (5 points). Morrell and Rivaroli are tied with Pedro Carneiro and Drew Spragg for the team lead in goals scored with two. Carneiro leads all Ospreys with two match-winning goals. Morrell has a team-best three assists, just in front of Jon-Michael Vieira.

Defensively, the Ospreys are led by goalkeeper Brad Sienkiewicz. The graduate student is boasting a 1.08 goals against average, allowing just 10 goals this season in his nine matches played. He has notched 41 of the Ospreys' 45 saves this season (.911) and has a save percentage of .804. Sienkiewicz and the North Florida defense has posted a pair of shutouts this season and have allowed one goal or fewer in eight matches this season.

Scouting the Opposition:
Upstate enters the week with one point in the A-Sun standings, but in a three-way tie for the sixth and final position for the A-Sun Tournament. The Spartans are tied with Stetson, which they tied last Friday at County University Soccer Stadium, and North Florida, Saturday's opponent. Upstate is just two points behind Jacksonville and Mercer.

Upstate will take on Jacksonville Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. and will battle North Florida Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Jacksonville owns a 7-1-0 lead in the all-time series, including a 2-1 overtime win in Spartanburg last year. Upstate is 10-5-1 all-time against North Florida, including a 4-1 victory last year at home.

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#MSOC Returns Home to Face USC Upstate

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