Box Score Box Score (.pdf)
Jacksonville, Fla. – North Florida scored five second-half goals to capture the A-Sun Men's Soccer Championship after defeating USC Upstate 7-0 Saturday evening from Hodges Stadium.
Upstate ends its season with a 7-7-1 overall record while North Florida improves to 10-6-1 and earns the conference bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Heiko Allmendinger looked to give Upstate the early 1-0 lead in the fourth minute with his attempt just inside the 18-yard box far side, but UNF goalie Kyle Nasta denied him with a save.
North Florida scored twice over the final 21 minutes of the first half beginning in the 24th minute on Aidan D'Mello's second goal of the season off a cross near side. Camilo Garcia pushed the Ospreys lead out to 2-0 just before halftime in the 43rd minute with his second goal of the year.
UNF opened the second half by scoring four goals within a span of eight minutes from Helge Pietschmann and Ivan Castro. Pietschmann tallied a hat trick for the Ospreys after recording goals in the 48th, 51st and 54th minutes. Castro added his first goal of the match in the 56th minute giving the Ospreys a 6-0 lead.
North Florida increased its advantage to 7-0 in the 87th minute courtesy of Shane Nicholson's first goal of the season.
Allmendinger and Gordon Wild each attempted two shots in the contest, while Allmendinger and Dustin Bailey added one attempt on-net apiece. Goalie Hassan Haddad finished with two saves.
Pietschmann led the Ospreys with four shots including three on-goal. Nasta and Tord Pedersen had one save each in goal.
Wild, Tucker Beerman and Leon Schwarzer were named to the All-Tournament Team for the Spartans.
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