JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The first road test of 2023 sends North Florida women's soccer for a day trip to face Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Ga., Thursday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m.
UNF and Georgia Southern last played in Statesboro all the way back on Aug. 26, 2016. That match resulted in a 1-1 draw.
MATCH DETAILS
- Who: UNF vs. Georgia Southern
- What: Game 3, first road match of the season
- When: Thursday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m.
- Where: Statesboro, Ga. | Eagle Field at Erk Park
- Live Stats: statbroadcast.com
- Watch: ESPN+
MATCH NOTES
Series History
UNF and Georgia Southern are going head-to-head for the eighth time … North Florida and Georgia Southern have both garnered three wins in the series' history, with one tie resulting back in the previous meeting in Statesboro … all eight meetings have been held during UNF's DI era … Georgia Southern and UNF played in unusual circumstances last season, being forced to the turf field adjacent to Hodges Stadium due to field conditions caused by heavy rain …
Allie Fekany broke loose to score the game's first goal, but Georgia Southern replied with three more to take it Aug. 25.
Last Time Out
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida women's soccer (1-0-1) continued its unbeaten run at Hodges Stadium, playing to a 0-0 draw against East Carolina (0-1-1) Sunday, August 20. Goalkeeper
Sarah Barrentine saw out the full 90 minutes, recording a clean sheet and making one save while facing 12 shots. The Ospreys have not conceded a goal at Hodges Stadium since October 23, 2021 against Jacksonville. Both teams battled heat and physical plan as UNF took on its first AAC foe since USF in 2021. All told, both teams took a combined 27 shots with either side unable to finish their chances in the end.
Scouting Report
- Georgia Southern is coming off two road matches to start the season
- The Eagles most recently lost to Furman, 2-1, Sunday
- Game one saw Georgia Southern shut down UAB, 2-0
- The Eagles faced some like-foes in Florida and Kennesaw State during exhibition play
- Georgia Southern put up a fight against UF, forcing a 1-1 draw Aug. 6
- The Eagles capped friendly play with a shutout win against Kennesaw State, 2-0
- Georgia Southern is coming off a strong 2022 season in which the Eagles went 8-4-5 and 7-1-2 in league play.
- The Eagles' postseason run was cut short after a 1-0 loss to Georgia State in the first round of Sun Belt Postseason play
- Georgia Southern was tabbed fourth in the preseason coaches poll
- Sade Heinrichs was named a United Soccer Coaches DI Player to Watch
Holding Down Hodges
- UNF is 1-0-1 after two games to start the home season
- Taking into account the lone exhibition game against Florida, North Florida hasn't allowed a goal through 270 minutes this season
- This shutout streak dates all the way back to Oct. 23, 2021 against JU
Back in Their Home State
Non-Conference - Looking Ahead
- UNF's 19-match slate features some very interesting opponents in non-conference play, including a match against 2022 NCAA DI semifinalist, Florida State
- UNF hosts the Noles, ECU, UW Green Bay and Troy in addition to Air Force
- The Ospreys play road non-conference matches at Georgia Southern, UCF and Mercer before opening ASUN play at home Sept. 14 against FGCU.
Preseason Honors
- North Florida was tabbed third in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll
- Sofia Miliancano, Allyna Thurston and Zara Siassi all made the Preseason All-ASUN Team
- Miliancano put the league on notice with her play last year and was named ASUN Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
- Thurston was named to the United Soccer Coaches Defenders to Watch List
Taking Inventory
- The Ospreys return a veteran team that features 25 returners
- 19 of the 38 Ospreys are underclassmen, with 20 being upperclassmen
- UNF returns 88 percent of its scoring from last year while goalkeeper Sofia Miliancano brings back 12 matches of experience from a season ago
- UNF's stingy defense in 2022 brings in a stretch of allowing just one goal from Oct. 9 through Oct. 27.
