FORT MYERS, Fla. — Third-seeded North Florida pulled off a stunning upset over second-ranked Eastern Kentucky, winning 1-0 in the 2025 ASUN Championship on Thursday. Allie Fekany's 85th-minute goal proved to be the difference in a tightly contested matchup that saw the Ospreys dominate possession and create chances throughout the match. The victory sends North Florida into the championship final and eliminates the higher-seeded Colonels from the tournament.
Fekany's decisive strike came late in the second half, with Allison Souers providing the assist. The goal capped a relentless attacking performance from the Ospreys, who generated 13 shots on goal compared to Eastern Kentucky's seven. North Florida's aggressive approach kept the Colonels' defense under constant pressure, forcing them into a reactive posture for much of the contest.
The first half remained scoreless despite North Florida's territorial advantage. Isabella Pontieri tested Eastern Kentucky's defense multiple times, firing several attempts that either missed or were blocked. Chloe Lynch also created problems in the attacking third, while the Colonels struggled to generate meaningful offensive opportunities. Eastern Kentucky's Rachel Robinson and Ana Manning managed a few chances, but neither could find the back of the net as the teams went into halftime deadlocked at 0-0.
Eastern Kentucky made three substitutions at the break, attempting to shift momentum and inject fresh energy into their attack. The second half began with North Florida maintaining its pressure, though both teams traded chances without breaking through. The Ospreys continued to dominate the midfield battle, controlling the tempo and limiting the Colonels' ability to build sustained attacks.
As the match wore on, Eastern Kentucky grew more desperate in search of an equalizer, but North Florida's defense held firm. The Ospreys' goalkeeper made seven saves to preserve the clean sheet, while Eastern Kentucky's keeper recorded 12 stops in a losing effort. The defensive battle intensified in the final stages, with both teams committing fouls and receiving yellow cards—Emery Scerbo for North Florida in the 59th minute and Ana Manning for Eastern Kentucky in the 82nd.
North Florida's corner kick advantage—eight to four—reflected their superior attacking play throughout the contest. The Ospreys' 23 shot attempts to Eastern Kentucky's 12 told the story of a team that came to compete at the highest level. Despite entering as the lower seed, North Florida's cohesive attacking play and defensive discipline proved too much for the favored Colonels.
The upset marks a significant moment for North Florida, which entered the tournament on a mixed run of form. The Ospreys had won their previous match against Queens (NC) before drawing with West Georgia, but this victory over a nationally-ranked opponent represents their most impressive result of the season. Eastern Kentucky, meanwhile, saw their tournament hopes end after a recent win over Lipscomb and a draw with Austin Peay.
North Florida advances to face the winner of the other semifinal, while Eastern Kentucky's season comes to an end. The Colonels, who held the second seed heading into the championship, will have to regroup after this unexpected exit from a tournament many expected them to win.