Lady Ospreys drop close home finale

Saturday, October 18

Jacksonville, Fla.

3 p.m.

University of North Florida

2 (OT)

Campbell University

Senior Elizabeth Gowan assisted on a goal in her final home match

10/18/2008 6:14:03 PM | Women's Soccer

UNF finishes the season with three matches on the road

By: Adam Jonson, UNF Athletics

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Senior Elizabeth Gowan scored for the second-straight match during the University of North Florida women's soccer home finale and senior day match Saturday afternoon, but Campbell stole the 2-1 overtime, Atlantic Sun Conference decision.

UNF (6-9-1, 3-4-1 A-Sun) grabbed the lead in the 40^th minute when junior Katelin Swift headed a pass from Gowan past Camel keeper Boomie Luck for her team-best 10^th goal of the season. The Lady Ospreys held on to their one-goal edge at halftime.

In the second half, Swift and senior Elena Luzins made a run past the Camel defense in an attempt to increase the Lady Osprey margin. The two made several passes back-and-forth before Luzins fired a shot that traveled just right of the goal.

The missed opportunity proved costly in the 70^th minute when Stetson (4-7-3, 3-4-1) knotted the match at 1-1, courtesy of Hanna Salmen, who lofted a shot from nine yards over UNF senior keeper Erica Lippitt's hands. After 20 minutes of scoreless soccer, the Lady Ospreys headed into overtime for the second time in as many matches and the fourth time this season.

UNF won its last overtime outing – against Stetson at Hodges Stadium – and had not been beaten in overtime this year. That streak came to an end when Sarah Durham sneaked a ball past several Lady Osprey defenders into the left corner of the net.

The attack was set up by a Camel corner kick that remained in the box after several touches. The ball rattled around, being touched by several members of each team, before Durham netted the golden goal.

The Lady Ospreys outshot Campbell, 11-6, in the contest, with five goals on frame. Campbell managed only two shots on goal but made them count, scoring on both. The Lady Ospreys also won the corner kick struggle, 6-1.

UNF finished its home slate with a 4-2-0 record, providing fans with plenty of suspenseful and exciting action. Five of the team's six matches at Hodges Stadium this season were decided by a single goal and two needed extra time to be decided.

A three-game road trip will bring UNF's season to a close. An Oct. 24 battle at Belmont begins the three-game swing, which wraps up with a SunTrust River City Rumble at Jacksonville on Oct. 30.