Late Rally by #MSOC Falls Just Short

Saturday, October 19

Jacksonville, Fla.

2:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

0-3-14-5-2 | ASUN

USC Upstate

1-3-11-8-2 | ASUN

USC Upstate

North Florida

Photo by: Todd Drexler

10/19/2013 5:24:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

Final Boxscore (pdf)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Sophomore Jean Rivaroli collected a pair of goals and an assist sparking a late rally for the North Florida men's soccer team in a hard fought 4-3 loss to USC Upstate on Saturday afternoon at Patton Park.

The Ospreys (4-5-2, 0-3-1 Atlantic Sun) scored two goals in the final six minutes of play, but were unable to overcome a string of four straight goals by the Spartans (1-8-2, 1-3-1) midway through the second half.

Rivaroli moved to the top of the UNF scoring ledger after posting his third and fourth goals of the season. He also picked up his second assist of the season during the closing scoring flurry.

"Proud of the way the guys battled and gave themselves an opportunity to win the game," said UNF head coach Derek Marinatos. "We created lots of scoring chances today which was great to see. Unfortunately, we failed to convert on a few really good scoring shots and it hurt us in the end. We have to just continue working as a team and those chances will go our way."

After a back-and-forth defensive battle in the opening half that saw both teams remaining scoreless, the second half fireworks started early as Rivaroli converted a penalty kick in the 48th minute of play. Rivaroli was taken down in the box by the Upstate keeper on a breakway to earn the free kick.

The Spartans answered less than seven minutes later finishing off a corner kick set piece. Adam Hemati found the head of Julian Feneberg for the equalizing score.

Upstate added a second goal in the 59th minute when Feneberg and Taylor Scalera used a pair of flick passes in front of the net to find Rinaldi Alphonse for the shot into an open net.

A third consecutive goal for USC Upstate came in the 67th minute as Michael Rankin-Byrne pressured the UNF backline forcing a turnover, which he blasted into the side of the net from 12 yards out for a 3-1 lead.

Tevin Gage scored the eventual game winner for the Spartans with just over 20 minutes left to play. Gage carried the ball up the right sideline before cutting back into the middle and slipping a shot past the Osprey keeper from about 10 yards out.

North Florida refused to go away getting its late charge started when Rivaroli found a racing Drew Spragg with a pass that slipped between a pair of Upstate defenders. Spragg tracked down the pass and touched it past the diving Spartan goalkeeper in the 84th minute.

Less than two minutes later, Rivaroli found himself one-on-one with the Upstate netminder after another pass from Sean Young that slipped through the Spartan backline. Rivaroli slotted a shot low and just inside the right post to close the Osprey deficit to one goal.

The Ospreys had a couple scoring chances in the closing minutes, but were unable to convert the game-tying score allowing the Spartans to escape with the conference road victory.

For the game, UNF keeper Brad Sienkiewicz finished with five saves. The Ospreys outshot the Spartans, 17-10, but Upstate held a 9-7 edge in shots on goal.

North Florida next visits Mercer on Saturday, Oct. 26.