JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the second time in two tries this season, sophomore Adam O’Neill netted a game-winning, overtime penalty kick and the University of North Florida thrilled its home crowd on Saturday night, this time soaring over Flagler, 2-1.
“Our team showed a lot of character to battle back they way we did,” UNF head coach Ray Bunch said. “Flagler is an extremely good team.”
UNF (3-4-0) fell behind in the 22nd minute when Conor Killeen made a nice move dribbling down the right side and netted his shot into the top right corner from 10 yards to give Flagler (4-2-0) a 1-0 edge.
After taking only three shots in the first period, the Ospreys tripled that number in the second half, and finally evened the score with a little more than 17 minutes remaining. Junior Sebastian Bianchi fired a shot from the left side of the goal and 10 yards, which found the top right corner of the net.
“I felt like we were the stronger side after we scored,” Bunch said. “But they made some good runs toward the end of regulation and put a couple of balls across the face of the net.”
Regulation ended with the score knotted at one, forcing UNF’s second overtime in as many home matches this season. Saturday’s overtime period mirrored that of the Ospreys’ first overtime home match this season, a 3-2 win over Gardner-Webb on Sept. 7.
Sophomore Akil DeFreitas neared the Saints’ net looking to score the golden goal, but was fouled inside the box, setting up UNF’s second penalty kick situation this year. Once again, O’Neill buried the shot and sent Osprey fans home satisfied.
“Adam really stepped up, not only with the game-winner, but also in the last 25 minutes of the second half,” Bunch said. “In a game that was so evenly matched, he helped make the difference that put us on top.”
UNF visits Central Florida on Wednesday before opening Atlantic Sun Conference play at East Tennessee State on Friday, Oct. 3.