Featured image by: Dan Parker

Strong defensive play from both teams dominated the majority of the game, however, a late goal allowed the USF Bulls to squeeze by the UNF Men’s Soccer team, 1-0.

Both defenses were tenacious and physical. The two teams combined for 15 shots (six on goal) and 34 fouls. The Bulls gave the Ospreys a scare in the 33rd minute with a would-be goal which was called offside. 

“It’s the work they put in,” UNF Men’s Soccer Head Coach Derek Marinatos said when commenting on the Ospreys’ strong defensive effort. “They’re committed to playing our style of football and our system. We get a lot of blocks, we squeeze out a lot of plays and we don’t give up a lot of quality chances.”

It took 80 minutes of hard-fought soccer, but South Florida’s Jonathan Rosales was finally able to score the lone goal of the match off a corner kick.

“[USF] is a good team,” defender Nick Burgess said. “We played well, we just didn’t finish our chances. So we just got to  go back to what we do week in and week out: work hard, get our mentality right and stay resilient.”

The loss drops UNF to 2-3-1 (1-0 ASUN) and the win improves USF to 4-2-0. 

The Ospreys have five upcoming conference matchups in their next six games including one at home against Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday, September 28.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time. We play Gulf Coast at home on Saturday,” Marinatos said. “At the end of the day, if we get the win, we’ll be in the driver’s seat for the conference.”

Kickoff against FGCU is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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