NE Florida News

University of North Florida Athletics issued the following announcement on Oct. 26.

North Florida men's soccer (4-7-1) had opportunities to score in its final home match, but ultimately came up short in a 1-0 loss to Florida Atlantic (8-4-2) on Tuesday evening.

GOALS

57' | Ivan Mykhailenko (Vasilis Spinos, Tom Abrahamsson)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Goalkeeper Carlos Melendez opened the game up for the Ospreys with impressive saves in the eighth and ninth minutes of the match.

Sophomore Malcolm Lewis had the first shot on goal for UNF in the 28th minute, but it was saved by FAU to keep the score even.

Senior Mirza Nevoric had an opportunity to score the opening goal of the game in the 43rd minute, but an Owls' defender was able to get a foot on it before it bounced into the net.

Florida Atlantic scored in the 57th minute after an initial shot and save by Melendez bounced to the feet of an FAU attacker to put in the open net.

Both freshmen Niklas Schaffner and Dean Walker had good looks at an equalizing goal in the second half, but neither could execute late in the game.

RECORDS

North Florida | 4-7-1

Florida Atlantic | 8-4-2

QUICK KICKS

Even though Florida Atlantic outshot North Florida, 11-5, the Ospreys had the same amount of shots on goal as the FAU with four.

All five shots by UNF were taken by different players, including the four shots on goal.

Five Osprey players made their first starts of the season against FAU, including senior Landen Haig who played his final game at Hodges Stadium on Tuesday night.

Melendez had three saves on 11 shots faced, including back-to-back saves, in his fifth game played this season.

FROM THE MOUTH OF MARINATOS

"I'm proud of the guys that stepped up. Mirza [Nevoric]'s chance in the first half was the best chance of the game. Credit to FAU in the second half for scoring the goal on the corner kick. We had a great look later on the header from Dean [Walker] and their keeper made a great save. We're now focused on Saturday against Liberty to try and make it playoffs." -- head coach Derek Marinatos

UP NEXT

The Ospreys will travel to Lynchburg, Va., for their final game of the regular season against Liberty on Saturday evening for a chance to clinch a spot in the ASUN playoffs.

Original source can be found here.