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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida men's soccer team opened up the 2014 season with a 5-2 victory over Florida Atlantic University (0-1) this evening in front of 1,178 fans at Hodges Stadium. The crowd is the third largest in school history and largest ever in a soccer season opener.
 
Drew Spragg scored twice, both times in the second half for the Ospreys and was credited with an assist in his season debut. Newcomer Helge Pietschmann assisted on both of Spragg's goals while Simen Solstad, Alex Morrell and Christian Pedroza each registered tallies in the win.
 
"We got out to a good start, with a tremendous strike by Simen [Solstad] which seemed to spark our offense," said Head Coach Derek Marinatos. "I'm proud that we were able to start the season off like this, a lot of the credit goes to our coaching staff. Coach Dunn really helped our team get prepared through preseason and Coach Barth had Tord (Pedersen) ready to play in his first college game in goal."
 
Solstad, who scored the last Osprey goal of the season in the 2013 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship game, picked up right where he left off in the 19^th minute of tonight's match. A tap off a set piece by Spragg, was all that Solstad needed as he cracked a missile into the top left hand corner of the net for the season's first goal.
 
The momentum was short-lived as the Owls were able to put home the equalizer a little over three minutes later on a low cross from Deniz Bozkurt that found the foot of Ramon Whittaker.
 
"I was a disappointed about the tying goal," said Marinatos. "I still don't think we've reached our potential and still believe there is room for improvement in all parts of our game."
 
The Ospreys were awarded a penalty kick in the 28^th minute that was converted by junior Alex Morrell. The score remained 2-1 at the sound of the halftime horn, with the Ospreys holding a 7-4 advantage in shots.
 
"We talked about it in the locker room that we needed the third and fourth goals," said Marinatos. "Our defense held strong, I give kudos to our back line and our freshmen that stepped up big for us tonight."
 
Spragg scored the first of his two goals in the 61^st minute when he ran on to head in a cross by Pietschmann to take a commanding 3-1 lead. The duo would link up again nine minutes later on a beautiful pass that Pietschmann fit through the middle of the Owl defense and gave Spragg a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper. Spragg's five points on the night tie him for the most in a single game in the North Florida Division I era.
 
Christian Pedroza scored his first goal as an Osprey when he capitalized on a 2-on-1, deep in FAU territory. Niklas Schuessler slipped a pass to him at the corner of the six yard line that he was able to punch home for the score.
 
Tord Pedersen earned the win in goal in his first collegiate game. He played 90 minutes for the Ospreys and recorded four saves.
 
"We look forward to play a solid NJIT squad for the championship and are excited to have the opportunity to win the Mike Gibbs Memorial Tournament," added Marinatos.
 
The Ospreys will try to win its first ever Mike Gibbs Tournament crown on Sunday evening when they take on NJIT at 7:00 p.m. The Highlanders defeated Jacksonville, 3-2 in a match across town at Southern Oak Stadium.