University of North Florida
2-2-1, 1-0-0
Jacksonville
3-2-0, 0-1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Florida | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Jacksonville | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Men's Soccer Nets Two Late Goals, Wins Fourth-Straight Against Jacksonville
9/5/2026 8:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida Men's Soccer netted two goals in the final three minutes of regulation to defeat crosstown rival Jacksonville, 2-1, in its ASUN Conference opener at Southern Oak Stadium on Saturday night.
Freshman forward Emir Trto notched the equalizer in the 87th minute and senior midfielder Mark Romano added a go-ahead header in the 89th minute. It marked the first-career goal for Trto and fifth-career goal for Romano, both Jacksonville, Fla. natives.
North Florida has now won four-straight matches and is unbeaten in the last six matches against Jacksonville.
Senior forward Geraldo Neto notched a pair of shots, including a shot on goal, in the initial 16 minutes of action. Neto finished with a team-high four shots.
North Florida also threatened with three corners in the initial 22 minutes of the first half. North Florida took a 3-1 margin in corners into the half. North Florida held a 2-0 advantage in shots on goal after the first 45 minutes.
The Ospreys attacked the Dolphins' backline with three shots in the 10 minutes out of half. Jacksonville added its goal in the 63rd minute.
Senior Tarik Freire made his North Florida debut. 16 Ospreys totaled action and fifth year goalkeeper Luciano Natoli, junior defender Rafa Rios, junior forward Kaiss Mansouri, senior midfielder Anton Khelil, senior defender Mikhail Keise and senior defender Germain Kapela played the full time. Rios has played the full time in all five matches this season.
North Florida outshot its hosts 10-7 and 4-3 in corner kicks.
North Florida is back in action when it hosts Coastal Carolina at Hodges Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Romain Spailier (2)
Assisted By: Kai Tamashiro
GOAL by JAX Spailier, Romain Assist by Tamashiro, Kai.
62:29
Emir Trto (1)
Assisted By: Mark Romano , Anton Khelil
GOAL by UNF Trto, Emir Assist by Romano, Mark and Khelil, Anton.
86:15
Mark Romano (1)
Assisted By: Germain Kapela
GOAL by UNF Romano, Mark Assist by Kapela, Germain.
88:44
