Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida men's soccer team finished the regular season out in style with a decisive, 4-0 win over Northern Kentucky (5-9-4, 1-4-1 A-Sun) on Senior Day at Hodges Stadium. The Ospreys scored three second half goals and recorded their fourth shutout of the season.
 
The three Osprey second-half goals all came in the final 18 minutes of regulation and helped the Ospreys garner some positive momentum going into next week's Atlantic Sun Conference Championships. The win helped the Ospreys secure the four seed and will pit them against USC Upstate on Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn. North Florida closes the regular season with a 6-6-1 overall record including a 3-2-1 record against A-Sun cohorts.
 
"I couldn't be more proud of the team win because a lot of guys played and were able to contribute," said Head Coach Derek Marinatos. "We know from this point forward that we are going to have to rely on everyone if we want to get through the (Atlantic Sun) playoffs."
 
Sophomore Simen Solstad put the Ospreys ahead in the 27^th minute when he headed a ball from Alex Morrell into the back of the net. A Northern Kentucky foul on the far outside part of the box enabled a free kick opportunity that Morrell was able to place on the head of Solstad. For Solstad it was his team-leading fifth goal of the season. The assist was Morrell's 11^th of his career, establishing a new North Florida Division I career record.
 
The Norse did not go down without a fight, applying tremendous pressure in the early going of the second half. Finally the Ospreys were able to successfully counter with a goal by Helge Pietschmann in the 72^nd minute. Pietschmann initially tried to cross the ball into the box but had it blocked. He recovered the loose ball, turned around and ripped his fifth goal of the year into the back of the net.
 
"Northern Kentucky threw everything they had at us in the second half but we were able to take some pressure off scoring the second goal," added Marinatos. "I thought we were able to create some nice chances which eventually led to the third and fourth goals."
 
Sophomore Milan Kovacs got in on the scoring action in the 78^th minute when he was the benefactor of a Garrett Cox shot that ricocheted off the cross bar. Cox had his lofting shot ring off the cross bar and bounce right to the foott of Kovacs who punched it into an open net for the third goal of the game. Junior Max McDaniel capped the night with his first goal of the year on a header off a long cross from Christian Pedroza.
 
The Osprey defense held strong throughout the match, allowing only four shots on goal. Osprey goalkeeper Kyle Nasta stopped all four tries for his fourth shutout of the season. Senior defenseman Diogo Quirino along with midfielders Christopher Bush and Teddy Mulamba each played a pivotal role the team's defensive success.
 
A time has yet to be announced for Wednesday's match. The Ospreys defeated USC Upstate earlier this season, 3-0 on the road. Check for the latest information on www.unfospreys.com or follow men's soccer on twitter @OspreyMSOC.