Kovacs Scores Twice in Season-Opening Win for Men’s Soccer

Friday, August 26

Jacksonville, Fla.

7:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

1-0

Winthrop

0-1

Winthrop

North Florida

Kovacs Scores Twice in Season-Opening Win for Men’s Soccer

8/26/2016 10:52:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Scott Fitzgerald | Athletic Communications

Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Senior Milan Kovacs scored twice in North Florida's 3-0, shutout victory over Winthrop (0-1). The Ospreys secured their seventh-straight win at Hodges Stadium and will play UNCG on Sunday night for the Mike Gibbs Tournament Championship.

Game Summary
The Ospreys continued their dominance at home behind two great goals from Kovacs. The forward kicked off the game's scoring in the 36^th minute when his slide tackle inside the Winthrop box tapped the ball by Eagle goalkeeper Kenneth Perkinson.

Another look at the UNF goal, Kovacs' 8th of his career! https://t.co/rfU15GjtQE
— UNF Men's Soccer (@OspreyMSOC) August 26, 2016

The game became much more physical in the second half and the Ospreys were the beneficiaries when Adrian Nunez was fouled in the box. Junior transfer Micah Smoak converted the penalty kick to make the score 2-0 with 25 minutes to play. A total of five Winthrop players were issued yellow cards in the contest.

Kovacs added to the Osprey lead with a tremendous volley off a Cormac Begley opposite field cross. He was able to one-time a rocket into the left side of the net for the game's final goal.

What a second goal from Kovacs! First collegiate assist for Cormac Begley! https://t.co/ULswwGROYn
— UNF Men's Soccer (@OspreyMSOC) August 27, 2016

Goals
36' Milan Kovacs (Assist: Ivan Castro)
65' Micah Smoak (Unassisted)
84' Milan Kovacs (Assist: Cormac Begley)

Key Moments
-3': UNF's first shot attempt came off a Simen Solstad set piece. Perkinson was able to field the deep shot on one hop.
-8': Perhaps one of the Osprey best chances of the evening came the first Winthrop yellow card. Sophomore Ivan Castro served a ball to the head of Smoak whose attempt sailed just high of the crossbar.
15': Nunez had his shot attempt get by the Eagle goalkeeper but just trickled off the left post to keep the game scoreless.
36': Kovacs scored the first of his two goals on a hustle play off a long feed from Castro.
45': In the closing seconds, Josh Castellanos had his close range shot deflected by Perkinson to hold the Osprey lead at one at the half.
65': Micah Smoak converted PK for his first goal as an Osprey
80': After a UNF turnover in their own zone, goalkeeper Juanes Fajardo made a stop on a dangerous shot by James Skonicki.
84' Kovacs caps a career night with his second goal on a rocket to the upper left corner of the net.

Game Notes
-Milan Kovacs was tallied his eighth and ninth career goals. His four goals last season are the most of any Osprey returner. It was the senior's first multiple goal game of his UNF career.
-The victory extends the North Florida home win streak to seven games. The Osprey defense has allowed just one goal in the last four games at Hodges Stadium.
-North Florida improved to 5-1 in season openers under Head Coach Derek Marinatos.
-The win gives the Ospreys a chance for their third Mike Gibbs Tournament Title in the last four years. Across town, Jacksonville dropped its home opener to UNCG, 2-0.
-A total of 704 fans packed Hodges Stadium for the 2016 home opener. The Ospreys set an ASUN record with 1,609 fans at the ASUN Championship game last fall.

From Coach Marinatos
On the season-opening win:
"I'm Proud of the guys, they trained hard all week and all the credit goes to the staff and players as they executed the game plan. I thought we looked sharp and we were able to create numerous chances throughout the game.

On Milan Kovacs' Performance:
"It's a great start to the season for him no doubt about that. We've been on him in the preseason to get him to finish and tonight he certainly delivered."

Looking Ahead:
"I'm always satisfied when we can keep a team scoreless at home, I'll take that any day of the week. We have to shift our focus to UNCG and concentrate on winning the (Mike Gibbs) tournament."