JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida Ospreys earned their second Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Soccer Championship after a 4-3 advancement on penalty kicks against Central Arkansas on their home field inside Hodges Stadium.

The scoring got started early with UNF getting on the board first in the 10th minute. Anton Khelil recorded the goal off an assist from Rentaro Miyakawa. In the 14th minute, Devonte Richards evened things up when he was assisted by Pharis Petrica and Aby Gomez. Richards gave UCA a lead when he put a shot in the low left of the goal that got past Luciano Natoli in the 22nd minute. After several minutes of back-and-forth play, David Perez netted a goal in the 39th minute for North Florida that sent the teams into the half tied up.

In the 67th minute, Joaquin Acuna put the Ospreys ahead again with a goal to low center. Richards completed the hat-trick for the Bears with his equalizing goal in the 73rd minute. Neither team was able to punch in a goal during regulation and the ASUN Championship Final headed to overtime for the first time since 2012.

The first 10 minutes of overtime didn't produce a goal despite three shots from Central Arkansas and two from North Florida. Both of the Ospreys' shots were on goal and required saves from Natoli. The second overtime period also didn't produce a goal which led to the first final to be settled by penalty kicks since 2007.

Richards stepped up first and netted his penalty kick for UCA then Khelil answered for the Ospreys. Pietro Fontana and Tyler Prebenda both were successful to keep the teams tied at two. The first penalty kick miss came from the Bears and then Rafa Rios put UNF ahead 3-2. Pharis Petrica made his attempt for Central Arkansas and was followed by a miss from Perez. UCA was unsuccessful on its fifth attempt and then Acuna connected on a shot to secure the title for UNF.

North Florida has earned the league's automatic qualifier and represents the ASUN in the 2024 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship. The Ospreys await the selection show on Monday, Nov. 18 to see who they face in the first round. 

All-Tournament Team
Joaquin Acuna, North Florida (MVP)
Anton Khelil, North Florida
David Perez, North Florida
Tyler Prebenda, North Florida
Elijah Bishop, Central Arkansas
Pietro Fontana, Central Arkansas
Devonte Richards, Central Arkansas
Beltran Alvarez, FGCU
Victor Lopes, FGCU
Charles Ahl, Stetson
Clarence Loriot, Stetson