The Sports Inquirer

Release from Kennesaw State Athletics:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite dominating the entire match, the Kennesaw State soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 setback to North Florida in a tough Atlantic Sun Conference match on a hot and humid Sunday afternoon (Oct. 12) at Hodges Stadium.

The Owls (5-9-1, 2-3) controlled most of the possession in the first 45 minutes of action and limited the Ospreys (5-9-1, 3-1-1) to just one shot in the opening period.

Out of intermission, KSU continued to apply pressure as freshman Marit Sandtroeen had back-to-back chances off corner services from redshirt-sophomore Brittney Reed with less than 20 minutes remaining in the second half as her first header shot was just tipped by UNF goalkeeper Victoria Ekeli and her second ricocheted off the left post of the goal.

With just 10 minutes left in the second half, the Ospreys finished the first and only goal of the match when Hanna Parado took a pass from Amanda Fischler and fired a shot from 20 yards out and into the upper left corner of the goal in the 80th minute.

Trailing 1-0, the Owls pushed ahead for the equalizer but none would come as UNF took the hard-fought victory.

KSU outshot the Ospreys 23-7, with Sandtroeen posting five shots, including three on frame, to lead the Owls. Senior Julia Nelson added four shots for the Owls.

Freshman Mady Carter and sophomore Olivia Sturdivant again split time in goal for KSU, as Sturdivant started the match and Carter playing the second 45 minutes of action, with neither goalkeeper recording a save in the match.

Ekeli totaled seven saves for the Ospreys, who got three saves from Kayla Gray.