NASHVILLE – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team's 2014 season came to a close in the Atlantic Sun Conference semifinals with a 2-0 loss to Florida Gulf Coast. The Norse were forced to play a majority of the match with 10-men after
Christian Johnson was shown a red card in the 14th minute.
The match started out with both sides moving slow, trying to adjust to the below freezing temperatures. The Norse eased into the game and looked to establish their physical presence early in the match.
Yaw Addai and
Ian O'Reilly found themselves booked within the first ten minutes of the match but the game completely changed in the 14th minute when
Christian Johnson was shown a red card. The Norse would have to play the rest of the game down a man.
Despite playing a man down, the Norse defense was able to keep things together for the remainder of the first half. The Eagles managed to get nine shots in the first half but none of them landed on target.
Ian O'Reilly,
Rader Massey,
Dylan Carss and
Gavin Colton anchored the defensive backline and with holding mildfielder
Alwin Komolong, they were able to keep the pressure off
Toby Frohlich. The match was scoreless after the opening forty-five minutes.
FGCU came out strong in the second half, eager to get a goal and put the Norse in a tough situation. The pressure mounted and the Norse were broken in the 56th minute when Santiago Echeverri's cross found Felipe DeSousa. DeSousa struck the ball low and well out of the reach of Frohlich and into the back of the net. FGCU took the 1-0 lead.
The Eagles added another goal shortly after when Echeverri inked his name on the scoresheet. After dealing with a cross and blocking two shot attempts, the Norse defenders couldn't hold on anymore and Echeverri hit a rebounded shot past the outstretched feet of Frohlich. FGCU shifted into cruise control throughout the rest of the match, holding the 2-0 lead.
"Losing someone in the first minutes of the game really puts you back on your heels," said head coach
John Basalyga. "We had to play well and eventually we made a mistake and they capitalized. FGCU is a really good team."
With the loss, the Norse fell to 6-10-4 overall. FGCU advances to the A-Sun title game against North Florida, while the Norse exit the tournament as a semifinalist. The 2014 season has come to a close but be sure to follow @NKUNorseMSOC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates on the team during the offseason.
