@OspreyMSOC Clinches Regular Season Title on Senior Night

Saturday, October 31

Jacksonville, Fla.

8:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

-861, 401 ASun

USC Upstate

-561, 131 ASun

USC Upstate

North Florida

Picture of the 2015 men's soccer seniors with their framed jerseys

10/31/2015 11:55:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida men's soccer team clinched a share of its first ever Atlantic Sun Regular Season Championship with a 2-0 win over USC Upstate (5-6-1, 1-3-1 A-Sun). The Ospreys finished 4-0-1 in Conference play and will be the No. 2 seed in next Saturday's Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.

Prior to the game, the Ospreys honored its 10 seniors and two of them stayed in the spotlight by scoring the match's two goals. Alex Morrell got North Florida on the board with his third goal of the season just before the halftime horn and fellow senior Helge Pietschmann iced the game with his fourth score of the year late in the second half.

The victory in tonight's contest will match the Ospreys up with Lipscomb next Saturday, Nov. 7 at Hodges Stadium at 7:00 p.m. North Florida bested Lipscomb earlier this year 3-0 in Nashville and also eliminated the top-seeded Bisons in last year's A-Sun Tournament.

"I'm very proud of the guys and am happy for the seniors, the staff and everyone associated with the program." said Head Coach Derek Marinatos. "It's been a long five years and we're excited to finally host a playoff game at home."

The Ospreys defense once again in tonight's contest was stellar, limiting the Spartans to just three shots with only one landing on net. It marks the fourth shutout in A-Sun play this season. The only goal surrendered in league play this season came by virtue of a penalty kick against FGCU.

"Our defense really showed its quality tonight, they're (USC Upstate) a good offensive team. We were able to shut down the nation's leading scorer which is something we're proud of," added Marinatos.

Senior Kyle Nasta was credited with his fourth shutout of the season and the 10^th of his career. Already the program's D-1 era in saves, he only needed one tonight to keep USC Upstate off the board. The win is also his A-Sun leading, eighth of the year.

Morrell's game-winner came with just 55 seconds left in the first half. He came up with a loose ball in the box and bent a shot around Upstate netminder, Hassan Haddad. Morrell, normally the guy distributing the ball to his teammates, established a new career high with his third score of the season.

The game's second goal wrapped up a dominant performance on both ends of the field. Pietschmann was the benefactor of a short slip pass by freshman Ivan Castro at the top of the six-yard box. The assist from Castro was his second of the season. Pietschmann becomes only the fourth player since 2005 to score 10 or more goals.

The Ospreys will host their first postseason game since 2009 and only for the second time ever. FGCU will be the top seed in next weekend's tournament based on winning the goal differential tiebreaker.