North Florida Men’s Soccer secured their seventh consecutive victory, maintaining an unbeaten streak in conference play with a 2-1 win over Florida Gulf Coast at Hodges Stadium on Saturday night.
This win brings North Florida’s record to 8-3 overall and 2-0 within the ASUN conference. It’s the team’s longest unbeaten streak since joining Division I.
Florida Gulf Coast struck first in the 35th minute. However, redshirt senior Jaxon Reinhardt equalized just before halftime, scoring his fifth goal of the season with a header from a play by teammates Anton Khelil and Kaiss Mansouri.
The game shifted in North Florida’s favor in the 83rd minute. Luc Granitur intercepted a pass intended for Florida Gulf Coast’s goalkeeper and capitalized on the opportunity, scoring his fourth goal of the season.
In total, 16 players from North Florida participated in the match, with seven, including junior Tyler Prebenda and senior defenders Alex Barnett and Jaylen Yearwood, playing the entire game. North Florida dominated the stats, outshooting their opponents 13-8, with 6 shots on target compared to 5 for Florida Gulf Coast.
Next, North Florida will face College of Charleston in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. on Tuesday, October 7, at 6 p.m.
This recent success not only highlights the team’s skill but also reflects the growing popularity of college soccer in the region. According to a 2023 NCAA report, college soccer attendance and fan engagement have increased by 15% over the past five years. As more fans get involved, the excitement surrounding teams like North Florida continues to rise.
For a deeper dive into college sports trends, you can check the NCAA’s official reports here.