Men's Soccer Wins Atlantic Sun Championship

Saturday, November 16

Jacksonville, Fla.

7 p.m.

University of North Florida

7-7-4, 4-2-1

No. 4 Central Arkansas

8-7-3, 3-3-1

Central Ark.

North Florida

11/16/2024 11:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Ospreys Clinch Second ASUN Tournament Title in Program History

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - No. 2-seeded North Florida men's soccer's (7-7-4, 4-2-1) clinches its second-ever Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship title after an electric 3-3 (4-3 in PKs) result against No. 4-seeded Central Arkansas (8-7-3, 3-3-1) on Saturday evening at Hodges Stadium.

The Ospreys had a trio of scores during regulation from Anton Khelil, David Perez and Joaquin Acuna. With a 3-3 draw after extra time, Khelil, Tyler Prebenda, Rafa Rios and Acuna scored their PKs to go along with a save from Iu Pentinat to secure the 4-3 win in penalties.

Acuna was named the ASUN Tournament MVP to headline the Ospreys on the ASUN All-Tournament Team. Tyler Prebenda, along with Khelil and Perez, rounded out the postseason tournament honors for UNF in the championship game.

GOALS

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Ospreys did what they do and drew first blood quickly once again with a sub-10-minute score from Khelil to give UNF a 1-0 lead.
Just moments later, UCA responded with a score deflected off the post to even the score only 14 minutes into the championship match.
After the Bears added a second goal from Devonte Richards, Perez entered the fold just before halftime with a screamer in the top right corner of the net to equalize at the break.
After back-and-forth play through the first 20 minutes of the second half, Joaquin Acuna poked a cross into the goal to take a 3-2 lead on the home pitch.
Richards earned a hat trick for UCA to event the score once again at 3-3, which would ultimately send the game into extra time.
Close calls from both sides through the 20 minutes of extra time were made, but the defenses stood tall to enter penalty kicks in the ASUN Championship match.
UNF substituted goalkeeper Iu Pentinat into the game for Luciano Natoli, where he recorded a save in the third attempt.
In a first-to-miss situation, the UCA keeper took the fifth PK attempt and missed wide left, which left the door open for Acuna to finish the job and bring home UNF's second tournament title in program history.

RECORDS

North Florida | 7-7-4, 4-2-1
Central Arkansas | 8-7-3, 3-3-1

QUICK KICKS

North Florida won its second tournament title in program history and its first since the 2015 season.
Head coach Jamie Davies and his coaching staff lead the Ospreys from the worst record in the ASUN last season to tournament champions in their first year at the helm.
First Team All-ASUN Acuna added ASUN Tournament MVP to his postseason accolades after scoring three goals and the game-winning PK in the championship.
The senior finished the season with five scores over his last three games, while Perez earned his second straight game with a goal.
Rentaro Miyakawa, Nick Kishchenko, Jaylen Yearwood and Angus Taylor all recorded assists in the postseason final.