Men’s Soccer Drops Match at NJIT

Saturday, October 12

Newark, N.J.

7:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

3-5-2, 2-1-1

NJIT

5-3-4, 2-1-0

North Florida

NJIT

team picture of the unf men's soccer team

10/12/2019 9:20:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. – The host Highlanders (5-3-4, 2-1-0 ASUN) broke a defensive struggle with a pair of second half goals as men's soccer (3-5-2, 2-1-1 ASUN) was felled Saturday night, 2-0.

GOALS
69' | Gerald Cubero
74' | Regsan Watkins (Diogo Ferreira)

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Cubero broke the stalemate with a dazzling shot from the upper right corner of the box, bending it into the upper-right 90. Cubero was unassisted on the goal, setting up the shot off his own dribble.
-NJIT tacked on another on a give-and-go play between Regsan Watkins and Diogo Ferreira in the 74th minute. Watkins tapped it to his teammate before receiving the pass back and beating Padraic Gilley inside the near post.
-The first half had a dash of the strengths of both teams, with NJIT's potent offense creating some chances while UNF's stingy defense holding strong. NJIT put up five shots to UNF's two in the first half.
-Zane Bubb had UNF's first true opportunity of the game, sending a header high in the 13th minute.
-Taylor Martin cleared a loose ball in the box in the 21st minute, NJIT's best chance in the early going.
-Martin put a good opportunity on goal in the 57th minute. The grad transfer took a loose ball and unleashed a shot from 20 yards out, but NJIT's backline got in the way for a team save.
-Bubb and senior Jake Hawker went back-to-back on shot opportunities, although NJIT evaded UNF's most threatening sequence. Bubb's header on a corner in the 62nd minute went wide, while a Hawker shot was saved less than a minute later.

RECORDS
North Florida | 3-5-2, 2-1-1 ASUN
NJIT | 5-3-4, 2-1-0 ASUN

QUICK KICKS
-This was the fifth meeting between the two teams.
-UNF leads the all-time series, 2-1-2.
-UNF has only allowed 11 goals through 10 matches.
-It was UNF's first loss in conference play this season.
-NJIT had 13 shots to UNF's seven.
-Bubb put up three shots, while Hawker had a pair.
-Gilley made four saves in goal.

FROM THE MOUTH OF MARINATOS
"Credit to NJIT for finishing in the second half. Neither team had great chances in the first half and then we came out in the second half with some great opportunities, particularly Jake Hawker's shot that went into the keeper's chest. That was a momentum changer and if we bury that goal we could have changed the course of the game. Their guy had a great finish for the first goal and for their second goal was not who we are defensively. When you play these games on the road and you're in first place teams are going to come at you, and credit to NJIT tonight."

UP NEXT
The Ospreys have a week off before hosting Stetson Saturday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m.