Box Score (PDF)FORT MYERS, Fla. – In what has proven to be a tough place to play for Atlantic Sun opponents in the regular season over the years, the North Florida men's soccer team played to a 2-2 draw at Florida Gulf Coast (5-5-4, 3-0-1 A-Sun) this evening. The Ospreys recorded their first tie of the season, moving to 5-5-1 and 2-2-1 in the Atlantic Sun.
"I'm disappointed that we didn't get a result out of tonight's game but I'm proud of our effort," said Head Coach
Derek Marinatos. "We were forced to use a few different guys in different positions and were still able to battle down the stretch."
A thrilling sequence of plays spanning eight minutes in the second half forced the contest into two extra sessions. The Eagles carried a 1-0 lead into the second half but the Ospreys were able to tie the game on a penalty kick by
Helge Pietschmann in the 72
nd minute. Before North Florida could claim the momentum, Nicolas Samayoa punched in its second score of the night for the Eagles just five minutes later to make the score, 2-1.
Before you could blink the game was tied back up at two. Just 48 seconds later, senior
Diogo Quirino headed in a pass from
Camilo Garcia into the lower left corner of the net for the equalizer. The score was the defender's second of the season.
Junior
Kyle Nasta and the Osprey defense held it down for the remainder in the contest to keep the game knotted up. FGCU unloaded a total of 12 shots in the second half and four more between the two overtimes. Nasta finished the day with five saves in 110 minutes of action.
The tie clinched a playoff berth for the Eagles, the fifth consecutive appearance in A-Sun postseason play. The Ospreys needed a win to clinch their second-straight berth but will now will need to secure at least a point in the final two contests for another trip.
The Ospreys, who were among the league leaders in shots coming into the contest, managed just 10 shots with only two going on frame. FGCU unleashed a total of 24 shots with six going on net. Eagle goalkeeper, Nathan Ingham made one save and gave up two goals for only the third time in 14 starts this season.
The Eagles extended a national-best, 25-straight home unbeaten streak with tonight's tie. The Ospreys were the last team to beat FGCU at home when they topped the Eagles 2-1 in last year's Atlantic Sun Conference semifinals.
The Ospreys will have over a week to prepare for their old conference foe, Mercer on Monday, Nov. 3. The game will take place in Macon and is slated for a 6:00 p.m. start. The last time the two squads met North Florida eliminated the Bears from last year's postseason with a 1-0 victory.
