The UNF men’s soccer team opened their season Sept. 4 through Sept. 6 with two losses at the 2009 University of Central Florida Fall Classic.

The Ospreys lost 3-2 to the Iona Gaels Sept. 6 in the final match of the UCF Fall Classic.

The Ospreys were the first to strike less than three minutes into the match. Senior midfielder Frank Dinzey passed the ball to sophomore midfielder Calvin Lowe who shot the ball past the Iona keeper into the net. The Gaels scored the equalizer in the 33rd minute when Iona’s Mario Di Miceli received a pass off of a rebound and put it in the net. Four minutes later, the Gaels scored the go-ahead goal when Mario Aceto crossed the ball to Shane Jeffery who headed it in. The half ended with the Ospreys trailing 2-1.

The Ospreys tied the game in the 84th minute when an Iona player scored an own goal off of a UNF cross in the box. Iona would regain the lead shortly after when Fernando Liserra connected with Giovanni Destasio’s head on an Iona free kick, resulting in the third goal of the game. The Ospreys had one more chance at goal, but the Iona goalkeeper blocked the shot.

The Ospreys lost their first match of the tournament 3-1 to UCF. The Ospreys went down 1-0 early when UCF’s Nik Robson netted a free kick in the 11th minute. The Ospreys tied the game in the 28th minute when Lowe crossed the ball to Dinzey who headed the ball in the back of the net.

The majority of the second half would not see a goal after the first half ended in a tie. Then in the 80th and 81st minutes of the game, UCF’s Chris Feigenbaum and Jeff Simmons both scored, putting the Ospreys away.

The Ospreys continue their campaign when they take on Charleston in the Furman Diadora Tournament Sept. 11 at 4:30 p.m. Then they will play tournament-hosts Furman Sept. 13 at 2:30 p.m.