MCLA: UNF Ospreys Split Weekend Doubleheader, Take Down FAU and Fall in OT to UNCC
via UNF web site – (Written by Adam Kilby, Photos by Bernie Prince)
FAU Recap
In game one of North Florida’s double-header, the Ospreys played host to the Florida Atlantic University Owls. With a win, the Ospreys would move to 4-0 in the SELC South division, therefore clinching a playoff berth for the first time in program history.
North Florida wasted no time jumping up on FAU with a top shelf snipe from midfielder #5 Jason Randolph (4g, 1a), followed by a cannon from midfielder #2 Alec Noble (1g, 2a) on the Ospreys first two possessions. Senior attack man #6 Ryan Pasinski would follow up shortly after with the first goal of his hat trick to go along with two helpers. Before the first quarter was over Pasinski and Randolph would each add one to put the Ospreys up 5-0 at the end of the first.
The second quarter would start just as the first quarter did with a face-off win by #21 Stephan Rotolante and a goal by #5 Jason Randolph assisted by attack-man #20 Davis Pittenger (1g, 2a). The combination of Rotolante and #10 Tye Mcghee would go 78% (15/19) at the X helping the Ospreys go up 7-0 midway through the second quarter before FAU finally got one. Midfielder #22 Kamryn Medvec would slice through the defense to take the momentum right back with a bouncer putting the Ospreys up 8-1 at the half, 30 minutes away from clinching a trip to the SELC playoffs.
FAU came out firing at the beginning of the third with two quick goals bringing them within 5 of the Ospreys. #6 Ryan Pasinski would end the Owls momentum with an unassisted goal midway through the third quarter. Midfielder #9 Garrett Arnold (1g, 1a) added one as the Ospreys went to the 4th quarter with a 10-3 lead.
One of the stories of the game was the dirty bird man down unit led by goalie #1 Christian Kouskouris who finished the game with 8 saves. The combination of LSM #24 Adam Kilby, D-Mid #10 Tye Mcghee, #18 Nate Renner, #13 Michael Leary, and #16 Zach Prince was too much for the Owls to handle as they went 0/6 on extra man opportunities.
After a great performance in the cage by Kouskouris, goalie #17 Cameron Noble got the nod in the fourth quarter. Noble finished with a gutsy 9 save, fourth quarter shutout as the Ospreys would add two goals in the quarter on their way to a 12-3 triumph over the FAU Owls. With the win, the North Florida Ospreys have secured an SELC playoff berth for the first time in program history. Rival FGCU (March 3rd) and Columbus State (April 14th) remain on the Ospreys divisional schedule as they look to go undefeated in the division and capture the #1 seed heading into the playoffs (April 20th-22nd).
UNCC Recap
RECAP – In the second leg of the double header, the Ospreys took on cross-divisional opponent UNC Charlotte, who qualified for the SELC tournament in 2017. With just 45 minutes to rest between games the 49ers jumped on the Ospreys early with two quick goals on their first two possessions. One of the goals coming from UNCC face-off specialist Jacob Collins. The Osprey struggled at the X as Collins won 78% (18/23) of the draws.
UNCC had the Ospreys on their heels with a two minute EMO already up 2-0 early in the first quarter when LSM #24 Adam Kilby scooped up a tipped pass from #16 Zach Prince and raced down the side line for the clear to finally give the Ospreys there first offensive possession. This would yet again be a story of the game as the dirty bird man down unit held UNCC 0/7 on their EMO’s. The Ospreys opponents combined for 0/13 on EMO’s on the day. Sophomore goalie #1 Christian Kouskouris played a huge role in the defenses success with 15 saves in the game, setting a career high. #18 Nate Renner was instrumental in the teams clearing success.
On the ensuing possession Midfielder #5 Jason Randolph (3g, 1a) would get the scoring started just as he did in the previous game with a nice alley dodge and finish. Senior attack-man #6 Ryan Pasinski (3g, 1a) would quickly tack on two more goals on the next two Osprey possessions as the Ospreys took the lead and momentum. Freshman #20 Davis Pittenger (2g) finished on crease right as the quarter ended to give the Ospreys a 4-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. North Florida would get there biggest lead of the game at 5-2 with a snipe from Randolph to start the second quarter. After trading goals back and fourth, #21 Stephan Rotolante (1g, 1a) snuck one past the UNCC goalie on the crease with under a minute to go in the half as the Ospreys took a 7-4 lead to the break.
After six quarters of lacrosse already in the books, the Ospreys started to fade in the second half. #5 Jason Randolph would slip one past UNCC in the third to cap off his second hat trick of the day but that’s all UNF could muster as UNCC closed the gap to 8-6 heading into the fourth quarter. UNCC went on a 3-0 run to take the lead 9-8 with a little over five minutes left in regulation. With 2:20 left in the game the Osprey defense came up with a huge stop leading to #21 Stephan Rotolante racing down the sidelines getting the assist as #6 Ryan Pasinski gave the Ospreys new life with his third goal of the game. After two more stops by the defense the Ospreys took a timeout with just over 20 seconds left in the game to try and win it in regulation. North Florida got the look they wanted but unfortunately for the Ospreys, with less then 2 seconds on the clock UNCC goalie Noah Stickler made a kick save to send it to overtime.
With two minutes left in the first period of overtime, UNCC called a timeout to try and win it. After a hard fought eight quarters of lacrosse and an extra period the Ospreys fell 10-9 in an overtime thriller in game two of their double-header. On the day, the Ospreys moved to 4-3 overall while clinching a berth in the SELC playoffs with two remaining division games. The Ospreys return to action next Saturday, March 3rd against two Nationally ranked opponents Louisiana-Lafayette (#18) and the reigning SELC D-II Champions Florida Gulf Coast (#11). The Ospreys will take on their rivals FGCU at 6:00pm looking to earn themselves the south division crown. #SWOOP
FAU came out firing at the beginning of the third with two quick goals bringing them within 5 of the Ospreys. #6 Ryan Pasinski would end the Owls momentum with an unassisted goal midway through the third quarter. Midfielder #9 Garrett Arnold (1g, 1a) added one as the Ospreys went to the 4th quarter with a 10-3 lead.
One of the stories of the game was the dirty bird man down unit led by goalie #1 Christian Kouskouris who finished the game with 8 saves. The combination of LSM #24 Adam Kilby, D-Mid #10 Tye Mcghee, #18 Nate Renner, #13 Michael Leary, and #16 Zach Prince was too much for the Owls to handle as they went 0/6 on extra man opportunities.
After a great performance in the cage by Kouskouris, goalie #17 Cameron Noble got the nod in the fourth quarter. Noble finished with a gutsy 9 save, fourth quarter shutout as the Ospreys would add two goals in the quarter on their way to a 12-3 triumph over the FAU Owls. With the win, the North Florida Ospreys have secured an SELC playoff berth for the first time in program history. Rival FGCU (March 3rd) and Columbus State (April 14th) remain on the Ospreys divisional schedule as they look to go undefeated in the division and capture the #1 seed heading into the playoffs (April 20th-22nd).
UNCC Recap
RECAP – In the second leg of the double header, the Ospreys took on cross-divisional opponent UNC Charlotte, who qualified for the SELC tournament in 2017. With just 45 minutes to rest between games the 49ers jumped on the Ospreys early with two quick goals on their first two possessions. One of the goals coming from UNCC face-off specialist Jacob Collins. The Osprey struggled at the X as Collins won 78% (18/23) of the draws.
UNCC had the Ospreys on their heels with a two minute EMO already up 2-0 early in the first quarter when LSM #24 Adam Kilby scooped up a tipped pass from #16 Zach Prince and raced down the side line for the clear to finally give the Ospreys there first offensive possession. This would yet again be a story of the game as the dirty bird man down unit held UNCC 0/7 on their EMO’s. The Ospreys opponents combined for 0/13 on EMO’s on the day. Sophomore goalie #1 Christian Kouskouris played a huge role in the defenses success with 15 saves in the game, setting a career high. #18 Nate Renner was instrumental in the teams clearing success.
On the ensuing possession Midfielder #5 Jason Randolph (3g, 1a) would get the scoring started just as he did in the previous game with a nice alley dodge and finish. Senior attack-man #6 Ryan Pasinski (3g, 1a) would quickly tack on two more goals on the next two Osprey possessions as the Ospreys took the lead and momentum. Freshman #20 Davis Pittenger (2g) finished on crease right as the quarter ended to give the Ospreys a 4-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. North Florida would get there biggest lead of the game at 5-2 with a snipe from Randolph to start the second quarter. After trading goals back and fourth, #21 Stephan Rotolante (1g, 1a) snuck one past the UNCC goalie on the crease with under a minute to go in the half as the Ospreys took a 7-4 lead to the break.
After six quarters of lacrosse already in the books, the Ospreys started to fade in the second half. #5 Jason Randolph would slip one past UNCC in the third to cap off his second hat trick of the day but that’s all UNF could muster as UNCC closed the gap to 8-6 heading into the fourth quarter. UNCC went on a 3-0 run to take the lead 9-8 with a little over five minutes left in regulation. With 2:20 left in the game the Osprey defense came up with a huge stop leading to #21 Stephan Rotolante racing down the sidelines getting the assist as #6 Ryan Pasinski gave the Ospreys new life with his third goal of the game. After two more stops by the defense the Ospreys took a timeout with just over 20 seconds left in the game to try and win it in regulation. North Florida got the look they wanted but unfortunately for the Ospreys, with less then 2 seconds on the clock UNCC goalie Noah Stickler made a kick save to send it to overtime.
With two minutes left in the first period of overtime, UNCC called a timeout to try and win it. After a hard fought eight quarters of lacrosse and an extra period the Ospreys fell 10-9 in an overtime thriller in game two of their double-header. On the day, the Ospreys moved to 4-3 overall while clinching a berth in the SELC playoffs with two remaining division games. The Ospreys return to action next Saturday, March 3rd against two Nationally ranked opponents Louisiana-Lafayette (#18) and the reigning SELC D-II Champions Florida Gulf Coast (#11). The Ospreys will take on their rivals FGCU at 6:00pm looking to earn themselves the south division crown. #SWOOP
