No. 2/3 UNC Scores Late Goal to Clip @OspreyMSOC

Monday, September 21

Chapel Hill, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

3-5-0

UNC Chapel Hill

6-0-1

North Florida

North Carolina

9/21/2015 9:55:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Florida men's soccer team (3-5) hung tough with one of the country's top teams but ultimately were victims of a late goal in a 2-1 loss to No. 2/3 North Carolina (6-0-1). All three of the game's goals were scored in the final 45 minutes, including the decisive goal in the 83^rd minute.

"We came out and battled, giving them all we could for the majority of the game," said Head Coach Derek Marinatos. "No fault of our effort because it was there, we were able to put pressure on them and created opportunities."

The two teams played to a scoreless draw in the first 45 minutes and the Tar Heels finally capitalized just 4:31 into the second half. Omar Holness was the end recipient of two well-orchestrated passes of the sharp footwork of Alan Winn and Raby George. The final feed was a cross from the near sideline that just missed the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Kyle Nasta through the six-yard box to a waiting Holness.

The lead was relatively short lived as North Florida was able to establish a balanced scoring attack. The hard work on the offensive end finally paid off when Alex Morrell outraced a UNC defender and perfectly placed a shot into the far left corner of the net, tying the game at one in the 58^th minute.

Despite being on the short end of a 9-6 shot count, the Ospreys were the aggressors in the second half with four shots compared to UNC's three. Tonight's game was only the second time this season North Florida was outshot by an opponent.

The game-winner was put home by the Tar Heels' leading scorer, Tucker Hume who netted his fourth goal of the season in the 83^rd minute. Hume was able to make a move into the box after a pass from Johnathan Campbell.

The North Florida defense kept on of the nation's top offenses in check for most of the game, allowing only three shots on goal. The Tar Heels came into the contest averaging 2.17 goals per game, the 15^th highest in the country. UNC was the national leader last year with 52 total goals.

"I'm proud of the direction we're heading but at the end of the day it still is an L in the loss column," added Marinatos. " We know that the team we played is one of the best in the country but we now need to shift our focus on getting a result on Sunday against Georgia Southern and make sure we are prepared for conference play in two weeks."

The Ospreys squared off against a nationally-ranked opponent for the first time since 2012 and their first top-5 opponent since 2006 when they played No. 2 Duke. North Carolina garnered a No. 2 ranking earlier in the day by TopDrawerSoccer.com and was the third-ranked team in the NSCAA National Coaches poll.

North Florida will play one more non-conference game before beginning Atlantic Sun Conference play on Oct. 3 in Nashville, Tenn. against Lipscomb. In the meantime the Ospreys will prepare for a match with Georgia Southern on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. in Hodges Stadium.