Ospreys Drop Double Overtime Heartbreaker at FGCU

Thursday, October 17

Fort Myers, Fla.

7:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

9-5-2, 3-2-1

FGCU

10-3-1, 5-0-1

North Florida

FGCU

10/17/2019 9:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: North Florida Athletics

UNF-FGCU Boxscore

JACKSONVILLE -- The North Florida women's soccer team went toe-to-toe with ASUN leader FGCU for over 100 minutes on the road before suffering a heartbreaking 1-0 loss on a floating header with just over six minutes remaining to play.

RECORDS
North Florida | 9-5-2 (3-2-1 ASUN)
FGCU | 10-3-1 (5-0-1 ASUN)

GOALS
FGCU - 104' | Evdokia Popadinova (Marjorie Boilesen, Kara Kyramarios)

HOW IT HAPPENED
- FGCU held a possession advantage over the opening 20 minutes of action holding a 3-0 advantage in shots
- In the 8th minute, the Eagles saw a scoring chance thwarted by a solid Osprey defensive effort as goalkeeper Rhiannon Conelley was able to slow down a shot in a 1v1 situation before Hollyn Knight raced back and swept the slow rolling ball off the goal line
- UNF earned its first corner kick of the night in the 29th minute
- North Florida's team defense was able to corral several attacking runs by the Eagles while also setting up some quality countering opportunities
- In the 41st minute, Emma Voight collected the Ospreys first shot attempt of the night but her long range blast sailed wide left of the net
- A minute later, Thais Reiss crossed a ball in front of the net where a header attempt by Devyn Encalada was turned away
- The Eagles had another close range chance halted in the closing minute when Sara Delucca made a sliding sweep of a shot rolling toward an open goal
- Early in the second period, Reiss set up over a free kick attempt just outside the box but saw her curling shot attempt headed for the upper corner snared out of the air by a leaping FGCU keeper
- Minutes later the Eagles had a free kick try from the top right corner of the box defensively headed away by Knight at about the 6-yard box
- In the 55th minute, Conelley smothered a FGCU header that was directed toward the left post
- Kendra Hoffman slipped a pass towards a charging Reiss in the 70th minute but it was tipped away by a diving Eagle keeper at the last second
- 75 minutes into the action, FGCU saw an open shot from just inside the 18-yard box sail wide left
- Shots were nearly even with FGCU holding a 7-6 edge in regulation | The Eagles held a 9-1 advantage in corner kick attempts
- Ospreys had the first scoring chance in extra time as Reiss took a spinning shot from the right side of the box which pushed right of the post in the 93rd minute
- FGCU keeper made a match saving stop in the 98th minute as Reiss found herself unmarked in the middle of the box and lashed a shot that was punched over the crossbar
- North Florida mustered the only two shot attempts in the first overtime session
- The Eagles earned the decisive tally in the 104th minute on a header from Evdokia Popadinova

QUICK KICKS
- The loss was just the Ospreys second in ASUN competition this season and second on the road
- Teams were even at 8-8 in shot attempts with FGCU holding a slim 5-3 edge in shots on goal | Eagles held a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks
- Five of North Florida's six ASUN matches have featured a final score of 1-0

FAULCONER TALES
"What a game to be a part of. Had all the intensity of post season play. We need to play in games like this to learn how to win games like this. FGCU is the premier program in our conference and that is where we want to be. Credit to them for doing what they needed to do to win tonight. Our players have left it on the field for the second game in a row and unfortunately we haven't made the one play needed to get the desired result. Eventually, we need to learn how to create that margin of difference. I believe it's coming. I am gutted for them. They gave me everything I could ask of them and more. We have two big games left and we need to get points. We have a week to recover and prepare. We are looking forward to the challenge." - Head coach Eric Faulconer

UP NEXT
North Florida visits Stetson next Thursday (Oct. 24) for the final regular season road match.