Jacksonville Sports News*

SOCCER: UNF men's season comes to end against Mercer

The University of North Florida men’s soccer team ended the 2009 season as the Ospreys fell 3-0 to Mercer at Hodges Stadium in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament.

With the win, the Bears (6-10-2) advance to the semifinals to take on No. 1 seed Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C., while the loss ends the Ospreys’ (4-13-1) season. The men’s soccer team advanced to the postseason for the first time since reclassification to full Division I membership.

“My hat’s off to Mercer,” head coach Ray Bunch remarked after the match. “I thought we played really well for the first 20 minutes, but Mercer was able to take advantage of some set plays and get an early lead. It was one of those nights. I thought we could have played until midnight and the ball just wouldn’t have gone in. Mercer made it difficult for us all night and they worked really hard. They did what they set out to do. Good luck to them in the tournament.”

Aside from the score, the match was virtually even statistically. UNF held a slight 11-to-9 advantage in shots. The Ospreys recorded three saves to two by the Bears. Mercer took five corner kicks compared to three by North Florida. The Ospreys recorded 10 fouls in the match while the Bears had six.

Senior Frank Dinzey led all players with five shots on the night. Senior David Pollard added three shots for the Ospreys, including a shot on goal. Sophomore Peter Lauer added a pair of shots with a shot on goal, while junior Adam O’Neill also added a shot.

Mercer's first score came as Ryan Young headed a cross off of a corner by Ian Cameron in the 31st minute to take a 1-0 lead. The duo of Young and Cameron teamed up again for a nearly identical play in the 56th minute to take a 2-0 advantage.

The Bears scored their third and final goal of the night in the 59th minute of the match. William Betts collected a deflected ball in front of the goal for an easy score.

Neither team was able to score a goal in the final 30 minutes of the match and Mercer won by a final score of 3-0.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Driscoll era begins at UNF with exhibition win

The Matthew Driscoll era began with an exhibition win for the University of North Florida men’s basketball team as the Ospreys defeated Ave Maria 71-56 Thursday night at UNF Arena.

Ave Maria, an NAIA school from outside Naples, Fla., gave UNF a good test to open the season. The Gyrenes had already played a regular season game.

Five Ospreys made their collegiate debuts, including four true freshmen. Making their UNF debuts were freshman Andy Diaz, David Jeune, Jerron Granberry and William Wilson, as well as junior Brad Haugabrook.

The game was close throughout until UNF made a run with about nine minutes remaining in the game. Leading 51-50, the Ospreys went on an 11-0 run to gain their first double digit lead of the game at 62-50 on senior Stan Januska’s 3-pointer with 5:17 remaining. Haugabrook tallied the assist on the key basket. North Florida then held Ave Maria to just six points the rest of the way in the win.

Haugabrook led UNF in scoring with 13 points and Diaz notched a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in his first college action. Diaz was 5-for-6 from the field and also had a team-high three steals. Januska and senior guard Eni Cuka chipped in 10 points each.

All 10 players who played for UNF scored. Sophomore forward Matt Sauey had a team-high two blocked shots. The Ospreys shot 47 percent from the field for the game and 40 percent from 3-point range. Ave Maria shot 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from behind the arc.

“I would like to start off by really thanking the UNF community,” said Driscoll. “I really think they came out tonight. President Delaney and Coach Moon have done a great job of creating an atmosphere with the band and the cheerleaders and having the students come back and doing all those things you need to do to start help tradition and start a new era in Division I. Our guys were really excited about that.”

North Florida played 10 players in the first half and led 33-32 at the break. Eight of the 10 players who saw action in the first half tallied points, led by Diaz who led the Ospreys with seven points and seven rebounds. Sauey added six points. Ave Maria shot 58.3 percent in the first half, while UNF shot 48 percent.

The Ospreys are off until Nov. 14 when they open the regular season at Notre Dame. Game time is 2 p.m.

SOCCER: Osprey women lose battle against Bison

The University of North Florida women’s soccer team lost a tough match to the Lipscomb Bison, 1-0, at Hodges Stadium on Friday night.

The Ospreys dominated time of possession throughout the match. UNF was able to keep the pressure on the Bison with their ability to put together good touches in their attacks against Lipscomb’s defense.

In the first half seven Ospreys (5-10-3, A-Sun 2-5-2) recorded shots in, but were unable to capitalize on their runs.

‘We played well tonight, but similar to the JU match we couldn’t capitalize on our chances,” said head coach Linda Hamilton after the match. “Our opportunities to score were there, but Lipscomb’s defense played great tonight and kept us out of the nets.”

In the 60th minute, senior defender Kady Dearing, after receiving a deflection off Denisse Soltero’s corner, was able to send the ball back into sophomore Vladana Petricevic who handled the ball in the box. While setting up for the shot Lipscomb’s goalie,

Erin Zerio, was able to dive at Petricevic’s feet to disrupt her attempt on goal.
Lipscomb (4-13-0, A-Sun 2-7-0) was able to score their second half goal on one of its three corner kicks. In the 73rd minute, Lipscomb’s Kate Spellman laid up a great ball off the corner finding Meghan McGuire who was able to get her head on the ball sending it into the back of the net.

On the night both offenses had trouble getting shots on goal with only four saves being recorded.

The Ospreys will conclude its regular season with Senior Day against Belmont on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. at Hodges Stadium. Being honored in Sunday’s ceremony will be Whitney Colburn, Kady Dearing, Caitlin Kovacs, Anna-Kaye Logan, Lauren Maze, Kristin Rhodes and Katelin Swift.

UNF: Sports Buddies program partners with Big Brothers and Big Sisters

The University of North Florida Department of Athletics announced today that it has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida to promote its new Sports Buddies program.

In an effort to increase male recruitment, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida has introduced Sports Buddies, an activity-based mentoring program. Sports Buddies provides opportunities for adults to help build friendships and model good sportsmanship and provides the opportunity for children to experience sporting and recreational events that were once out of reach. This is a program for sports enthusiasts ready, willing, and able to volunteer as a mentor. Sports teach life skills, goal setting, character, and sportsmanship.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida is delighted to enter into a partnership with The University of North Florida’s Athletic Department to promote our new Sports Buddies program,” said Steven L. Gilbert, COO Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida. “By allowing our matches the opportunity to attend various collegiate sporting events, the children we serve are exposed to a University campus, their horizons are broadened, and they become lifelong fans. We are appreciative of the University’s administration’s continued support of our community.”

“The University of North Florida is extremely happy to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida,” said Brea Kratzert, Director of Athletic Marketing, UNF. “Sports Buddies is a fantastic avenue to engage the youth through athletics and various on campus activities. UNF appreciates the opportunity to work with BBBS and looks forward to a successful year.”

A “match” – the volunteer and child – in the Sports Buddies program will have an opportunity to attend and participate in a wide variety sports. All matches utilizing tickets must be together at sporting events. Tickets cannot be exchanged or substituted. “Bigs” – volunteers – attending events without their “Littles” – children – risk membership in the program.

Sports Buddies matches will have access to the following:
• Tickets to sporting events during the year, including college levels
• Sports clinics and camps
• Access to community sporting opportunities
• Participatory activities such as flag football, swimming, basketball, bike riding trips, etc.

Sport Buddies matches will also be exposed to:
• BBBS’ regular match activities
• Health, fitness and wellness programming
• Character and leadership development

For those interested in being a Big Brother or Big Sister contact BBBSNEFL at 904-727-9797 or visit the web at www.bbbsnefl.org.

VOLLEYBALL: UNF scores win in home opener

Juniors Danielle Lerch and Kaley Read combined for 35 kills as they led the University of North Florida Volleyball team past Atlantic Sun foe USC Upstate, 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25- 13) in the Osprey's 2009 home opener on Saturday, Sept. 19 at UNF Arena.