The Gators celebrate with Meggie Dougherty Howard after her game-winning goal Friday.
3-0 Win Over FGCU Sends Gators to NCAA Second Round
Friday, November 11, 2016 | Soccer
Three different Gators scored Friday - all in the second half.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Three goals from three different Gators in a second-half span of 16 minutes gave the University of Florida soccer team a 3-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast in NCAA First Round action Friday in front of 1,132 at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
With the win, No. 1 regional seed Florida advances to play host to NCAA Second Round play next Friday. The Gators will face Wisconsin, a 1-0 winner tonight over Marquette. That match will be played Friday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Dizney Stadium.
NCAA Bracket
How the Goals Were Scored:
After a scoreless first half, Florida started it scoring in the 66th minute. Samantha Chung brought the ball toward the top of the box and played a diagonal through ball to Meggie Dougherty Howard making a run down the right side of the box. Her right-footed shot scored at the far post from eight yards.
A freshman provided the Gators' second goal in the 78th minute. Julia Lester brought the ball into the box, created just the space she needed to score on a 10-yard left-footed shot.
Mayra Pelayo's cross found Savannah Jordan at the far post. Jordan's right-footed, five-yard shot just beat two Eagle defenders to score just inside the post in the 82nd minute.
Worth Noting:
Records:
Florida: 16-4-1, 8-3 SEC
FGCU: 14-5-1, 6-0-1 ASUN
Hear from the Gators:
On tonight's match:
"First of all, I would like to congratulate Florida Gulf Coast. They're in the tournament every year, and they're a really consistent program. The best part of the game for us, was not only our ability to stay patient, but the team defensive effort. The people that were sitting right behind us in the stands were the rest of our team, and I heard them all night. We keep talking about 39 strong, and everyone pulling for one another. That definitely happened tonight, and I think that was a big factor in our wins all season and tonight." - Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
On tonight's match:
"I'm proud of our team, not the result we were hoping for. We knew we would be up against it. Florida is a great team as you can tell. This doesn't take away from our season, and what we've been through this year with the adversity and injuries. This wasn't the result we were looking for, but I'm really proud of our kids and how they battled through the season to get to this point." - FGCU head coach Jim Blankenship
On Meggie Dougherty Howard's goal:
"It lets everyone breathe. Our sport is a strange one. I felt like we had a really dominating performance but still couldn't get the ball into the back of the net. Gulf Coast had a lot to do with that. Credit to them, but our ability to stay composed and stay relaxed in spite of not scoring -that was really important." - Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
On her goal tonight:
"It was a really good buildup on my goal. I know Rachelle [Smith] had a lot of time and space. She did a great job taking that. She combined with Mayra [Pelayo] out-wide, and Mayra served a great ball in the box. I think we did a really good job of bringing up the back, especially Rachelle coming up on the left side. She did a really great job on that." - senior forward Savannah Jordan
On FGCU's defense:
"I think they did a really good job defensively. They gave 100 percent effort in blocking shots and denying us in the first half. I think we stayed patient with that. Once we got the first goal, it was a little easier to relax." - senior forward Savannah Jordan
On her goal in tonight's match:
"I had it, and I passed it to Brooke. She settled it perfectly. It was a great touch by her and she just laid it up. I looked up and heard Savannah yelling. I looked right at her, and the defender went towards her. Then I saw an opening and I took it." - freshman midfielder Julia Lester
On her goal tonight:
"It was good and it just settled us all down a little bit. I think we all knew it was coming, but they were really putting on the pressure. We just stuck to our game plan and didn't get impatient or frustrated that we hadn't score yet. It was a good play for us because we just continued to do what we were doing. It was a great ball by Sam [Chung], she pretty much handed me that goal on a platter. All credit to her on that." - senior midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard
Next up:
Florida will face Wisconsin next Friday for NCAA Second Round action. The Badgers advance with a 1-0 win over Marquette Friday in Madison, Wis.
Florida plays host to NCAA Second and Third Round action next weekend at Dizney Stadium. Here's the schedule:
NCAA Second & Third Round Ticket Information:
NCAA Soccer Second and Third Round play will be at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium next weekend. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children (12 and under), students and senior citizens.
The first 200 UF student showing at Gator1 card are admitted free.
Ticket sales begin at 8:30 a.m. on Monday at the Gator Ticket Office, located at gate 1 of the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. For more information, contact the UAA Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, ext. 6800 or 1-800-34GATOR, ext. 6800 (state of Florida only).
Follow the Gators:
No. 1 regional seed Florida versus Florida Gulf Coast
Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium (1,132)
Weather: partly cloudy, 63 degrees, 58% humidity, WSW 4 mph
Scoring Summary:
Shots: FGCU 2, Florida 22
Saves: FGCU 9 (Melissa Weck 9), Florida 1 (Kaylan Marckese 1)
Cautions and Ejections:
Megan Young/FGCU – yellow (71:01)
With the win, No. 1 regional seed Florida advances to play host to NCAA Second Round play next Friday. The Gators will face Wisconsin, a 1-0 winner tonight over Marquette. That match will be played Friday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Dizney Stadium.
NCAA Bracket
How the Goals Were Scored:
After a scoreless first half, Florida started it scoring in the 66th minute. Samantha Chung brought the ball toward the top of the box and played a diagonal through ball to Meggie Dougherty Howard making a run down the right side of the box. Her right-footed shot scored at the far post from eight yards.
A freshman provided the Gators' second goal in the 78th minute. Julia Lester brought the ball into the box, created just the space she needed to score on a 10-yard left-footed shot.
Mayra Pelayo's cross found Savannah Jordan at the far post. Jordan's right-footed, five-yard shot just beat two Eagle defenders to score just inside the post in the 82nd minute.
Worth Noting:
- Florida advances after its opening NCAA match for the 16th time in the program's 20 appearances.
- The Gators leads the all-time series with FGCU 5-0, with three of the five meetings coming in NCAA First Round action.
- Dougherty Howard's goal raises her collegiate season high totals for goals (7) and points (24).
- Lester's goal was her third of the season and first in home action. She also scored at LSU and Missouri in regular-season action.
- Jordan's goal is her 16th of 2016 and the 81st of her career. In NCAA Division I history, 19 players have scored 81 or more goals and Jordan is one of seven to reach that mark since 2000.
- The top two current NCAA career leaders for goals and points were on the Dizney pitch Friday. Florida's Jordan tops both categories with 81 goals and 189 points. FGCU senior Tabby Tindell is second with 66 goals and 162 points.
- The shutout was the ninth for Florida this season, with eight in the last 12 matches. Kaylan Marckese is now tied for third among Gators' goalkeepers for solo shutouts in a season at nine.
Records:
Florida: 16-4-1, 8-3 SEC
FGCU: 14-5-1, 6-0-1 ASUN
Hear from the Gators:
On tonight's match:
"First of all, I would like to congratulate Florida Gulf Coast. They're in the tournament every year, and they're a really consistent program. The best part of the game for us, was not only our ability to stay patient, but the team defensive effort. The people that were sitting right behind us in the stands were the rest of our team, and I heard them all night. We keep talking about 39 strong, and everyone pulling for one another. That definitely happened tonight, and I think that was a big factor in our wins all season and tonight." - Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
On tonight's match:
"I'm proud of our team, not the result we were hoping for. We knew we would be up against it. Florida is a great team as you can tell. This doesn't take away from our season, and what we've been through this year with the adversity and injuries. This wasn't the result we were looking for, but I'm really proud of our kids and how they battled through the season to get to this point." - FGCU head coach Jim Blankenship
On Meggie Dougherty Howard's goal:
"It lets everyone breathe. Our sport is a strange one. I felt like we had a really dominating performance but still couldn't get the ball into the back of the net. Gulf Coast had a lot to do with that. Credit to them, but our ability to stay composed and stay relaxed in spite of not scoring -that was really important." - Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
On her goal tonight:
"It was a really good buildup on my goal. I know Rachelle [Smith] had a lot of time and space. She did a great job taking that. She combined with Mayra [Pelayo] out-wide, and Mayra served a great ball in the box. I think we did a really good job of bringing up the back, especially Rachelle coming up on the left side. She did a really great job on that." - senior forward Savannah Jordan
On FGCU's defense:
"I think they did a really good job defensively. They gave 100 percent effort in blocking shots and denying us in the first half. I think we stayed patient with that. Once we got the first goal, it was a little easier to relax." - senior forward Savannah Jordan
On her goal in tonight's match:
"I had it, and I passed it to Brooke. She settled it perfectly. It was a great touch by her and she just laid it up. I looked up and heard Savannah yelling. I looked right at her, and the defender went towards her. Then I saw an opening and I took it." - freshman midfielder Julia Lester
On her goal tonight:
"It was good and it just settled us all down a little bit. I think we all knew it was coming, but they were really putting on the pressure. We just stuck to our game plan and didn't get impatient or frustrated that we hadn't score yet. It was a good play for us because we just continued to do what we were doing. It was a great ball by Sam [Chung], she pretty much handed me that goal on a platter. All credit to her on that." - senior midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard
Next up:
Florida will face Wisconsin next Friday for NCAA Second Round action. The Badgers advance with a 1-0 win over Marquette Friday in Madison, Wis.
Florida plays host to NCAA Second and Third Round action next weekend at Dizney Stadium. Here's the schedule:
| Friday, Nov. 18 | |||
| Auburn/South Alabama vs Albany/Connecticut | 3 p.m. | ||
| Florida vs Wisconsin | 7 p.m. | ||
| Sunday, Nov. 20 | |||
| Match 1 winner vs Match 2 winner | 2 p.m. |
NCAA Second & Third Round Ticket Information:
NCAA Soccer Second and Third Round play will be at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium next weekend. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children (12 and under), students and senior citizens.
The first 200 UF student showing at Gator1 card are admitted free.
Ticket sales begin at 8:30 a.m. on Monday at the Gator Ticket Office, located at gate 1 of the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. For more information, contact the UAA Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, ext. 6800 or 1-800-34GATOR, ext. 6800 (state of Florida only).
Follow the Gators:
| Florida Gators Soccer | |
| Florida Gators | |
| @GatorsSoccer | |
| @FloridaGators | |
| @UFGatorSoccer |
No. 1 regional seed Florida versus Florida Gulf Coast
Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium (1,132)
Weather: partly cloudy, 63 degrees, 58% humidity, WSW 4 mph
| Goals by Period | 1 | 2 | Total |
| FGCU | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Florida | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Scoring Summary:
| No. | Time | Team | Goal Scorer | Assist |
| 1. | 65:03 | UF | Meggie Dougherty Howard | Samantha Chung |
| 2. | 77:39 | UF | Julia Lester | |
| 3. | 81:57 | UF | Savannah Jordan | Mayra Pelayo |
Shots: FGCU 2, Florida 22
Saves: FGCU 9 (Melissa Weck 9), Florida 1 (Kaylan Marckese 1)
Cautions and Ejections:
Megan Young/FGCU – yellow (71:01)
Team Stats
FGCU
UF
Goals
0
3
Shots
2
22
Shots on Goal
1
12
Saves
9
1
Corners
1
11
Fouls
15
6
Scoring Plays

Meggie Dougherty Howard (7)
Assisted By: Samantha Chung
8 yard goal
65:03

Julia Lester (3)
5 yards
77:39

Savannah Jordan (16)
Assisted By: Mayra Pelayo
5 yards
81:57
Game Leaders
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