Ospreys defense falters in 3-2 loss

Drew McDonald, Sports Editor

Featured Image by: Khorri Newton

Video by: John Watson

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4mNBTaQpkw[/embedyt]

After leading 2-0 at halftime, the Ospreys allowed three unanswered goals from the Air Force late in a 3-2 loss. 

Before the match, a heavy downpour of rain had both squads adapt to the elements. In the 11th minute, Leah Ferlin booted one from outside the box for the first goal of the match and Thais Rheiss followed suit with a goal of her own in the 12th minute for an early 2-0 lead. 

Emiley Benner had a shot in the 20th minute inside the box for the Air Force but it was not on goal, giving UNF a sigh of relief. 

At the half, UNF led, 2-0. The Ospreys had total control of the first half, only allowing three shots. 

Rhiannon Conelley made two key saves in the 53rd minute off a shot inside the box and shot off a corner kick. 

A free kick by Alex Giggie was blocked by Rheiss in the 74th minute to maintain UNF’s  2-0 lead. 

The Falcons finally got on the board on a goal by Lexi Romero that went high right in the 75th minute to set the score at 2-1, Ospreys.

Shortly after, Catherine Bakken scored in the 87th minute to tie at two which later forced an overtime. 

Faith Lee recorded the golden goal for the Falcons in the 99th minute to earn the 3-2 comeback win. 

UNF Women’s Soccer Head Coach Eric Faulconer talked about what changed in the second half that led to the 3-2 loss. 

“We told them at halftime that team (Air Force) is not going to go away. We couldn’t get a hold of the ball, we probably let the ball drop three times. In the end, the effort wasn’t good enough,” Coach Faulconer said. 

The goal from Rheiss in the first half was her seventh of the year which is tied for the lead in goals for the ASUN Conference. 

Ferlin’s goal was her third of the season, matching her total from last year with USF. 

The Ospreys now drop to 4-2-1 and the Falcons improve to 4-1-1. 

UNF’s next match is at home against Illinois State on Friday, September 20 at 7 p.m. 

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