Women's Soccer Comeback Falls Just Short Against Navy

Sunday, September 2

Jacksonville, Fla.

1 p.m.

University of North Florida

2-3

Navy

4-1

Navy

North Florida

Photo by: Glenn Gregory

9/2/2012 5:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: UNF Athletics

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The University of North Florida women's soccer team scored three goals in the second half, but couldn't quite overcome an early deficit, falling to Navy, 5-3, at Hodges Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

After going down 3-0 shortly after halftime and 4-1 in the 56th minute, the Ospreys battled back to make the score 4-3 before eventually falling just short.

“I was very proud of the way we battled in the second half,” Head Coach Linda Hamilton said. “But we just cannot put ourselves in these kinds of early holes.”

The Ospreys took the offensive from the onset, but shortly after kickoff, a torrential rain settled over Hodges Stadium. The teams made it until the 13th minute before the field was deemed unplayable and did not retake the pitch for an hour and a half.

When play restarted, the Midshipmen quickly asserted themselves on the offensive end. Morgan Dankanich found the net in the 28th minute when a rebound from Paloma Perez's shot fell to her and she was able to poke it into the open net, giving Navy a 1-0 lead. Jade Seabrook doubled the lead just eight minutes later, after Kaylie Davidson's header caromed off the crossbar. Seabrook also buried the rebound to put the Midshipmen 2-0.

Despite the scoreline, UNF held a 10-8 advantage in shots at halftime. They had also taken four corner kicks to Navy's three.

Just after halftime, Dankanich notched her second goal of the contest. After running onto a through ball from Ashlynn Soellner, Dankanich held off a defender and calmly put the Midshipmen up 3-0.

In the 55th minute, junior Keara Murphy pulled one back for the Ospreys in spectacular fashion. Taking a corner kick from the left corner, Murphy bent in a ball that turned perfectly into the upper-right corner of the net to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Less than a minute later, Navy kept the pedal down as Soellner latched onto a loose ball and fired a 25-yard, one-touch shot that slipped into the far corner of the net to put the Midshipmen up 4-1.

Junior Carolina Lencina earned the Ospreys a second goal in the 59th minute when she was dragged down in the penalty area. Lencina took the spot kick herself and calmly fired a shot that Navy goalkeeper Elizabeth Hoerner was only able to get a finger to, making the score 4-2.

In the 66th minute, junior Michele Larrinaga took advantage of another corner kick, when Navy couldn't quite clear a jostled ball. Larrinaga held off a defender to pounce on the ball and poke it past Hoerner to cut the Navy lead to 4-3.

Though UNF threatened a tying goal on multiple occasions, Soellner sealed it for the Midshipmen in the 78th minute, receiving a pass from Julie Schumacher and finishing the chance to give Navy their 5-3 winning margin.

By match's end, the Ospreys held a 22-13 edge in shots and took nine corner kicks to Navy's four. Sophomore Rachel Beninati grabbed four saves in the loss, before exiting in the 84th minute due to injury. Hoerner notched 10 saves to preserve the victory for Navy.

“We definitely know the things we have to work on,” Hamilton said. “We're going to take those things and get them right as we head into this road trip.”

The Ospreys will be on the road for much of September, not returning until a Sept. 30 matchup against cross-town rival Jacksonville. UNF will next be in action on Friday evening, when they travel to UNC Charlotte for a 7 p.m. bout.