Box Score (PDF)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Junior
Milan Kovacs netted his team-leading, third goal of the season to propel North Florida (4-5) to a 2-1 victory over Georgia Southern (2-4-1) Sunday night at Hodges Stadium. The Ospreys improved to 3-1 at home in 2015.
Kovacs scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 78
th minute for his sixth point of the season. Senior
Camilo Garcia slid a perfect pass from the top of the 18-yard line that Kovacs was able to run on and beat Eagle goalkeeper Jack Falle for the go-ahead score. The assist was Garcia's fourth of his career and first point of the season.
"We made it a scrappy and tough game but I'm thankful we were able to get a finish in the second half on Milan's (Kovacs) goal," said Head Coach
Derek Marinatos. "We were able to make the adjustments in the second half with our personnel, giving some guys an opportunity and they battled tonight."
The Ospreys were able to take advantage of two Georgia Southern red cards in the second half with the first coming in the 73
rd minute and played the final 13:39 with a two-man advantage.
The first half of play saw the game's first two goals beginning with freshman Josh Castellano's second tally of his career in the 38
th minute. The lead was short-lived as the Eagles responded with a goal of their own less than four minutes later. Raji Emmanuel finished a perfect crossing pass from Matt Melton for the equalizer.
"We were disappointed in how we finished the first half with the score tied 1-1," added Marinatos. I felt we created enough changes to build a first half lead and that didn't happen."
In the first 45 minutes the Ospreys held the majority of the possession and held a 8-5 advantage in shots. The script was flipped in the second half as the Eagles got off eight shots compared to the Ospreys five.
Goalkeeper
Kyle Nasta made a season-high, five saves to earn his fourth victory of the season.
North Florida has now won the last two games against Georgia Southern evening the all-time series at 4-4-1. Tonight's game was the first meeting between the two schools since 2012.
The Ospreys open up Atlantic Sun Conference play on Saturday when they travel to Nashville, Tenn. to take on Lipscomb. The two teams square off for the first time since North Florida knocked off the top-seeded Bisons in the semifinals of the 2014 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. The match is scheduled for an 8:30 p.m. EST start.
