Sunday’s game ended in a 2-2 draw for the women’s soccer team against Columbia, coming from behind twice despite questionable officiating.
UNF (2-4-2) got into a scoring rhythm in the second half after a troublesome first half in the attacking third.
“I liked our shape and that we were pressing well,” said head coach Linda Hamilton. “We have to continue to be a little more efficient once were in the attacking third.”
The Ospreys had a field day with goals on Friday night, beating Arkansas Pine-Bluff 10-1. Columbia (2-1-2) put up much more of fight.
Columbia found the net in the 35th minute on a counter attack. Good build up play and failure to clear the ball out of the box lead to Phoenetia Browne striking the ball past keeper Megan Dorsey.
Spurts of attacking play came from the Ospreys during their time on the ball, but the team could not get a clear chance at goal in the first half.
The second half was a different story for the Ospreys.
Freshman Alexis Bredeau found the net in the 49th minute. Carolina Lencina made a run toward the goal line and found Bredeau on a low cross.
“Being down and getting that early goal can definitely boost the teams’s morale,” said Bredeau. “As long as we just kept the ball rolling we had great success.”
Following the goal, Columbia threatened UNF with a strike from distance that drew the best from keeper Dorsey as she pushed it over the bar. She finished with six saves.
Shots were more abundant for the Ospreys. The team outshot Columbia 23-16.
Columbia found the net against the run of play on a lofted shot in the 67th minute that Dorsey could not put a hand to.
The game became gradually heated as the final 15 minutes passed.
The ref received a multitude of yells and screams from fans who were not pleased with many of the decisions made.
The 78th minute had fans yelling. The keeper for Columbia looked to have slid out of the box with the ball still in her hands.
Coach Hamilton said that the staff teaches them to be self coaches and to be calm and that they can’t control the red and those circumstances.
Fans were given something to cheer for in the 81st minute as Keara Murphy found the net on a bouncing ball inside the box.
UNF nearly stole the win in the 3rd minute of extra time as Lencina’s run forward found Heather Botelho waiting. Botelho’s shot was straight at the keeper who made an easy save.
The ref made questionable no calls throughout the game, both for and against the Ospreys. Lencina was knocked to the ground in the box while attempting to gold the ball with moments remaining in the first period.
“We worry about the thins we can control,” said Lencina. “We just focus on our game and what we can do.”
The game ended in a 2-2 deadlock as neither team could find the net during the extra period.
UNF will take on Furman (3-2-1) at home Friday.
