JACKSONVILLE -- North Florida converted a penalty kick in the closing minutes of the second overtime session to secure the 1-0 victory over Liberty on Thursday night at Hodges Stadium.
RECORDS
North Florida | 9-3-2 (4-2-1 ASUN / 1-1-1 ASUN East)
Liberty | 10-5-1 (5-2-0 ASUN / 2-1-0 ASUN East)
GOALS
106' UNF | Thais Reiss (penalty kick)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In a defensive dominated match, North Florida netted the golden goal after being awarded a penalty kick following a handball in the box by Liberty
- Thais Reiss, UNF's second leading all-time scorer, stepped to the spot and struck the ball inside the left post for the winner in the 106th minute
- In the first half, Liberty held the possession advantage but UNF tallied the first shot attempt in the 19th minute when Vanessa Piermont raced ahead and put a shot on frame
- The Flames created a pair of scoring chances late in the first period including a slow rolling shot off a corner kick service that Osprey keeper Mercedes Sapp was able to grab with a diving save
- Liberty collected a loose ball in the 55th minute but their shot attempt was turned away by Sapp
- Carmel Oliveira saw her angled shot attempt in the 58th minute deflect off the right post
- Neither squad created any real chances in the first OT period
- Kate Carter got her head on a corner kick early in the second overtime that sailed just left of the goal
QUICK KICKS
- The goal was the 9th of the season for Thais Reiss and marked the 42nd of her career | Reiss collected her 6th game winning goal of the season and 20th deciding goal of her career
- Mercedes Sapp recorded five saves en route to her seventh shutout of the year
- Loss for Liberty halted their three-match win streak
- Match was UNF's sixth overtime contest of the year and fifth to reach double overtime | Ospreys are 3-1-2 in OT this season
- Liberty owned a 8-5 shot advantage including a 5-2 edge in SOGs | Flames also held a 12-2 margin in corner kicks earned
- Penalty kick was the first of the season earned by the Ospreys
- Win gives Ospreys four points in the ASUN East standings and moves them into a tie for 3rd with crosstown rival Jacksonville with just two matches remaining in the regular season
UP NEXT
North Florida welcomes ASUN East leader Kennesaw State on Sunday at 1 p.m. to wrap up their conference weekend home stand.
FAULCONER TALE
"We had to have this result tonight. We put ourselves in a hole with our results last week and we needed to dig ourselves out of it. I am so proud of this group. They kept grinding and grinding and eventulally found a way. We will enjoy this tonight, but it's back to work tomorrow as we get ready for Kennesaw State on Sunday."
Head coach Eric Faulconer
