Box Score (PDF)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Trailing most of the game, the North Florida men's soccer team scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of play to top UCF (1-2) in overtime, 2-1. The Ospreys have now won three-straight games against the Knights, two in extra time.
The North Florida offense turned it up a level in the last five minutes with three shots on goal including the equalizer off the head of
Casey Caronis. Junior
Simen Solstad served a long cross from the far side to Caronis who elevated over a defender for the second goal of his career.
The golden goal came with just 2:04 remaining in the first overtime session off the foot of
Milan Kovacs. The junior created his own space just outside the goal box, turned around and fired a shot into the top left corner of the net, sending the Hodges Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
"It was a great win for us and a huge credit to the coaching staff and the players for executing," said Head Coach
Derek Marinatos. "Overall this is a huge team win, we were hoping to build some team momentum and am extremely proud the way performed."
UCF held a 1-0 lead for over 70 minutes of play before the Ospreys unleashed the triumphant comeback. The Knights posted the game's first goal just 11:05 into the contest with a goal by Hadji Barry. The senior ran on to a nice feed from Matias Pyysalo in the center of the field to make the score 1-0.
For the fourth game this season the Ospreys were able to outshoot their opponents. North Florida totaled 15 shots in the game compared to 12 by UCF. The second half included 10 of the UNF attempts.
Senior
Kyle Nasta was credited with 10
th career win which is tied for the most in the school's Division I era. He was able to turn away three shots on the night while his counterpart, Brendan Rennie recorded two saves.
Eight different players have now registered a goal for the Ospreys this season. Kovacs is the team's only multiple goal scorer and leads the squad with two.
North Florida will have the weekend off before returning to action on Monday night on the road against USF. The match will be the first ever meeting between the Bulls and the Ospreys.
