NJIT Escapes with 1-0 Win Despite Barrage of Osprey Shots

Friday, September 28

Jacksonville, Fla.

7:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

5-5-1, 0-2-1

NJIT

8-3-1, 2-1-0

NJIT

North Florida

UNF women's soccer senior class poses with their families on the field before the game on Senior Night

9/28/2018 9:58:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

NJIT vs UNF Final Boxscore

JACKSONVILLE -- Despite a season high barrage of 24 shot attempts including 14 on frame by the Ospreys, NJIT escaped with a 1-0 victory in ASUN play on Friday night at Hodges Stadium.

GOALS
NJIT - 45' Nicole Loehle (Penalty Kick)

HOW IT HAPPENED
- North Florida dominated play in the first half outshooting the Highlanders 15-3 but weren't able to turn those chances into goals
- Kendra Hoffman nearly got UNF on the board in the 9th minute when she took a corner kick service just outside the box and lifted a shot just over the crossbar
- In the 24th minute, Hannah Menendez corralled a loose ball in the box but her shot too sailed just high
- NJIT goalkeeper collected a pair of diving saves in a six-minute stretch that continued to keep the Ospreys off the scoreboard and Thais Reiss also saw a header slip just wide of the goal during the span
- The Highlanders took advantage of an unfortunate handball in the box in the closing minute of the half with Nicole Loehle converting the PK for the 1-0 halftime advantage
- Hollyn Knight had a solid scoring chance midway through the second stanza, but her header off a corner kick service was cleared off the goal line by a pair of NJIT defenders to keep UNF off the board
- In the 77th minute, NJIT created a 1-v-1 situation off a counter that was halted after an impressive sliding save by Osprey keeper Rhiannon Conelley
- UNF continued to fashion chances in the closing minutes and nearly collected the equalizer in the 86th minute when senior Krista Colubiale chipped a ball over the NJIT netminder during a scramble situation in the box. Unfortunately, the ball clipped the crossbar and fell harmlessly away before being cleared out of the zone

QUICK KICKS
- UNF finished with a 24-6 shot margin for the game including a 14-3 edge in shots on goal
- The shot total marked a season high for the Ospreys
- Thais Reiss matched her own program DI record mark with nine shot attempts to pace the offensive barrage
- NJIT goalkeeper Amelia Sapirman finished with 13 saves
- The Ospreys earned 6 corner kicks while allowing just one by the Highlanders
- North Florida drops to 5-5-1 (0-2-1 ASUN) on the season while NJIT improves to 8-3-1 (2-1-0 ASUN)

CONFER COMMENTS
"Soccer is a cruel game sometimes. Our girls did everything we asked of them tonight and played some of the best soccer of the year. Our defenders were outstanding tonight and I think they only had one good look on goal. We continue to be dangerous in the attack and I would be more concerned if we weren't creating chances, but we are. This one stings for sure but credit NJIT for battling hard and finishing the PK." - Head coach Robin Confer

UP NEXT
North Florida closes out the home portion of its 2018 ledger on Sunday against Kennesaw State at 1 p.m.