UNF prepares for season opener

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Learning from mistakes and bouncing back quickly will be key points for the University of North Florida women’s soccer team this week as the Lady Ospreys prepare for their first two regular season matches, including the team’s home opener.

Schedule:

UNF (0-0) visits Tampa, Fla. where it takes on the University of South Florida (1-0) on Friday, Aug. 22 at 5 p.m. to begin the 2008 season – USF Live Stats.  On Sunday, Aug. 24, the College of Charleston visits the UNF campus for a noon kickoff to open the Lady Osprey home slate.

USF edged past UCF, 1-0, on Saturday – the same day Rollins College defeated UNF – 3-1.  UNF and USF met for the first and only time in 2005, and the Bulls outlasted the Lady Ospreys, 1-0.

Charleston (0-0) opens its season at Jacksonville on Aug. 22 before visiting UNF on Aug. 24.  The Cougars have faced the Lady Ospreys once – a 2006 meeting in South Carolina.  The Lady Ospreys won the contest, 2-1.

Click here for live stats of UNF’s game against Charleston on Sunday and all future Lady Osprey soccer home matches.

Week Recap:

The Lady Ospreys hosted Rollins College in a preseason match last Saturday, and the Tars knocked off UNF, 3-1, in the exhibition contest on the UNF practice field.  UNF junior Lauren Maze used a penalty kick to net the first goal of the game in the 13^th minute.  The Lady Ospreys could not manage another goal while Rollins netted two before halftime and another early in the second half.  Click here to view the full story and box score.

Who’s Hot

Senior Elizabeth Gowan enters the season as a member of the preseason All-Atlantic Sun team.  Gowan notched a team-high six goals in 2007, bringing her career total to 11.  Gowan increased her career assist total to 12 after she added three assists last season, tying junior Katelin Swift for team-best.

Record Watch

This season, Gowan can break into the top-10 in goals scored in UNF women’s soccer history if she matches her total (6) from a year ago.  Also, with two assists, she can also add her name to the record book in career assists.

Quotables

Head coach Linda Hamilton on preparing for the season opener:  “Some of the things we need to work on were pretty apparent against Rollins.  We know we need to improve on those aspects to be ready for USF.”

Hamilton on the season:  “We are becoming a new team and learning how to play with one another, and still developing team chemistry.  Our home opener is especially important to us because we want to play as well at home this year as we played on the road last year.”

Admission

No admission will be charged for all UNF home soccer matches