Overtime PK lifts Ospreys Over Bulldogs, 3-2
September 07, 2008 | Men's Soccer
The Gardner-Webb men's soccer team fell, 3-2, to North Florida Sunday afternoon after the Ospreys connected on a penalty kick in the second overtime period. The Bulldogs have lost three in a row by a one-goal margin; two coming in OT.
Neither team could manage much of an offensive attack in the first half. UNF broke the scoring drought in the 26th minute of play with an unassisted goal from 10 yards out by Akil DeFreitas. DeFreitas' goal turned out to be the only score of the first half and the Ospreys headed into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
UNF's Mikhail Awai increased the Ospreys lead with a score just over 10 minutes into the second half. Awai volleyed the ball into the net off a corner kick won by UNF.
Despite being down 2-0, the Bulldogs didn't throw in the towel. Gardner-Webb sophomore Richard Gray pulled the Bulldogs within one with a goal in the 67th minute, followed shortly by a goal from freshman Jesse Rodriguez in the 85th minute to tie the match at 2-2.
The first overtime period was a chess match between the two teams, neither one gaining an advantage. The second overtime period seemed much of the same until DeFreitas slipped past the Bulldogs' defense and was taken down in the box with less than five minutes left in the second overtime period. UNF's Adam O'Neill converted the PK in the 115th minute to give the Ospreys a 3-2 victory.
Gardner-Webb remains winless on the season, but will look to change things around at the Winthrop Tournament on Sept. 12-14. The Bulldogs are scheduled to play Appalachian State at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12 and USC-Upstate at noon on Sunday, Sept. 14.
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