Kennesaw State soccer’s four-game unbeaten streak came to an end Thursday night, but the Owls never stopped fighting.

KSU fell 3-2 to North Florida in its non-conference finale, closing the opening portion of the season before turning its attention toward Conference USA play.

The Owls trailed by two goals late, but freshman Aaliyah McDiarmid pulled one back in the final seconds to give Kennesaw State a dramatic finish.

McDiarmid’s goal was the first of her collegiate career and capped a three-point night for the freshman, who also recorded an assist.

Anabel Orozco continued her scoring involvement as well, assisting on the opening goal and extending her point streak. She now has 12 points on the season.

Kennesaw State Strikes First

The Owls wasted little time creating an opportunity.

In the fifth minute, McDiarmid won possession in North Florida’s defensive third before finding Orozco.

Orozco turned and located Ava Bradford, who took the pass and fired from outside the box.

The Texas native’s shot beat the UNF goalkeeper to give Kennesaw State an early 1-0 lead.

Bradford’s finish was her second goal of the season.

But North Florida responded almost immediately.

The Ospreys worked the ball to Allison Souers near the penalty spot. Souers turned and found Morgan Guillemette, who finished with a one-time effort to level the match.

The game entered halftime tied.

North Florida Takes Control

North Florida eventually grabbed the lead early in the second half.

Kennesaw State goalkeeper Charlee Bernal made the initial save, but the Ospreys kept the play alive.

Taylor Tamares was left open at the far post and converted the rebound to put North Florida ahead.

The Ospreys added another goal in the 64th minute.

North Florida earned a free kick just outside the box, and the initial attempt struck the post. Once again, the Ospreys reacted quickly to the rebound and finished the second chance.

Suddenly, Kennesaw State faced a 3-1 deficit.

McDiarmid Keeps the Owls Fighting

Despite the two-goal deficit, Kennesaw State continued to push.

The breakthrough finally came in the final seconds.

The Owls earned a corner, and Orozco took it quickly. Her delivery caused a scramble in front of goal.

Aubrey Diskin got a shot away, but it was blocked.

McDiarmid was in the right place at the right time.

The freshman finished the loose ball to score her first collegiate goal, cutting North Florida’s lead to 3-2.

There wasn’t enough time left for Kennesaw State to find another equalizer, however, and the Owls’ four-game unbeaten streak came to an end.

A Three-Point Night for McDiarmid

Even in defeat, McDiarmid provided one of the night’s biggest individual storylines.

She finished with three points, contributing an assist on Bradford’s opening goal before scoring the Owls’ second goal herself.

Her first collegiate goal also came in a high-pressure moment, with Kennesaw State still battling until the final whistle.

Orozco continued her impressive season with another point, bringing her total to 12 points.

Bradford’s goal gave her two for the season.

Conference Play Is Next

With non-conference play complete, Kennesaw State now gets more than a week to regroup.

The Owls’ next match will be their Conference USA opener at Sam Houston, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.

The loss to North Florida closes one chapter of the season, but Kennesaw State enters conference play having already shown stretches of strong attacking production and the ability to fight through difficult moments.

Now the Owls will have to carry those positives into CUSA competition.

Community Spotlight: Responding When Setbacks Happen

Kennesaw State’s four-game unbeaten streak may have ended in Jacksonville, but the Owls showed they weren’t willing to stop competing. A two-goal deficit became a one-goal game in the final seconds, with McDiarmid’s first collegiate goal providing a reminder that setbacks don’t have to define what comes next.

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ASN TAKE

The result wasn’t what Kennesaw State wanted, but the final seconds provided a glimpse of the fight this team has shown during its recent unbeaten run.

McDiarmid’s three-point night was the biggest positive. The freshman contributed to both KSU goals and scored her first collegiate goal when the Owls needed a spark.

Orozco also continued her productive season with another assist, while Bradford added her second goal of the year.

The four-game unbeaten streak is over, but Kennesaw State doesn’t have much time to dwell on it.

Conference USA play is next.

Author: Quique Lopez

Quique Lopez doesn’t just cover soccer—he deconstructs it with the precision of a veteran and the wit of a storyteller. A former player who sees the pitch as both a tactical chessboard and a cultural stage, Quique balances sharp critiques with a genuine love for the game’s soul. He’s as quick to call out the ego of a superstar as he is to find the hidden beauty in a local derby.