GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida starts the 2017 season No. 7 on the
United Soccer Coaches Preseason Rankings. This is Florida's sixth straight year among the nation's preseason top 10.
2016 NCAA runner-up West Virginia tops the USC preseason poll. The 2017 Gators opened preseason practice Wednesday.
This is Florida's 21
st consecutive appearance on the USC (previously named National Soccer Coaches Association of America) preseason poll in the program's 23-year history. During the 2016 season, Florida won the Southeastern Conference Tournament title, turned in a record of 17-5-1 and advanced to the NCAA Third Round.
About the 2017 Gators:
The 2017 Gator team is made up of 31 players and returns eight starters from the 2016 NCAA Sweet 16 team.
Two on the 2017 Florida team earned All-SEC honors last season –
Kristen Cardano (second team) and
Gabby Seiler (first team). A third Gator defender,
Julia Lester, earned SEC All-Freshman honors in 2016.
RETURNING STARTERS: 8
- Ten of the 16 Gators who earned points in 2016 return this season. Of the 169 points generated by the 2016 Gators, graduation claimed six players who contributed 87 points and 31 goals – Savannah Jordan (16 goals, 9 assists – 41 points), Meggie Dougherty Howard (8g, 12a – 28 pts), Brooke Sharp (4g, 1a – 9 pts), Pamela Begic (3g – 6pts), Betsy Middleton (2a – 2pts), Erika Nelson (1a – 1pt)
Gators Called into U.S. Youth National Team Activities
Four returning Gators were called into U.S. Age-Group National Team or tournaments since the conclusion of last season.
| Florida Players in U.S. Youth National Team Events in Offseason |
| Gator |
U-18 |
U-23 |
| Kristen Cardano |
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Orlando 4/2-8 |
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| Kaylan Marckese |
California 12/10-17 |
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| Mayra Pelayo |
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Open Nordic Tournament (Sweden) 5/31 – 6/12 |
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| Gabby Seiler |
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Seattle Camp 7/21-28 |
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Portland Camp 3/26-4/1 |
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California Camp 1/6-13 |
Three Gators played in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, held in November 2016 in Papua New Guinea - Roberts (U.S.), Araujo (Brazil) and
Deanne Rose (Canada). The U.S. took fourth in the tournament, Brazil advanced to the quarterfinal and Canada did not move forward after group play. A fourth Gator,
Gaby Rivera, hoped to represent Mexico in the U-20 World Cup, but a knee injury kept her off the final roster.
Three transfers join the Gators in 2017:
Among Florida's roster are three who joined the team as transfers.
Lais Araujo played for ASA Junior College in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 2014 and 2015, earning 2015 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I All-America second team honors. She was captain for Brazil's 2016 FIFA U-20 World Cup team, starting each of Brazil's four matches at the event.
Parker Roberts transferred to Florida for the 2016 season, but sat out the 2016 collegiate season as she was part of the U.S. roster for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Parker was a 2015 Big 12 All-Freshman team selection while with Kansas. She started 19 of 20 matches played at KU, scoring three goals (all game-winners) and registered an assist.
Alex Stubblebine transferred from Cincinnati and is eligible to compete for the Gators in 2017. She started four of her 14 appearance as a freshman in 2016, scoring her first collegiate goal in the opening three minutes of a 2-1 win over Temple. She is from Ocala, Fla., and played with several of the current Gators during her club career.
Gators' Five Freshmen:
This class brings experience from state, national and international levels – including some from the sport's top events:
- Madison Alexander of Dorr, Mich., has been a member of U.S. Youth National teams
- Samantha Earle was the 2013 Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) 2A State Player of the Year while with Gulliver Prep. She also played for Sunrise Soccer club, winners of the 2016 Disney Showcase.
- Lauren Evans of Lithia attended Olympic Development Program (ODP) and id2 Player Development Program (PDP) Nike camps. She was part of Newsome H.S. teams which advanced to the 2016 and 2017 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 5A semifinals.
- Deanne Rose was a member of Canada's bronze-medal team at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, scoring Canada's first goal and assisting the game-winner in the bronze medal match. She is the third current Gator to play in the 2016 FIFA U-20 World Cup, starting each of Canada's three matches.
- Ailey Tebbett is the sixth from Gainesville to sign with the Gator soccer team. The goalkeeper from Oak Hall School also plays for Florida Elite Soccer Academy, winner of the 2015 U-16 Disney Soccer Showcase.
INCOMING FRESHMEN: 5
| Name |
Pos |
High School (Club Team) |
| Madison Alexander |
Forward |
Dorr, Mich. (Alliance Academy) |
| Samantha Earle |
Forward |
Key Biscayne, Fla. (Sunrise Sting) |
| Lauren Evans |
Midfielder |
Lithia, Fla. (Tampa Bay United) |
| Deanne Rose |
Forward |
Alliston, Canada (Scarborough GS United) |
| Ailey Tebbett |
Goalkeeper |
Gainesville, Fla. (Florida Elite Soccer Academy) |
The Schedule
Six teams among the
Gators' 19-match schedule advanced to 2016 NCAA play.
| Date |
Opponent |
Advanced to 2016 NCAA Round |
| Aug. 25 |
Stanford |
Second Round |
| Sept. 8 |
Florida State |
Second Round |
| Sept. 21 |
Texas A&M |
Second Round |
| Oct. 5 |
Missouri |
First Round |
| Oct. 13 |
Auburn |
Quarterfinal |
| Oct. 26 |
South Carolina |
Quarterfinal |
| bold denotes home matches |
The nine home matches will be played at two venues –
James G. Pressly Stadium and
Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
|
Pressly Stadium |
|
Dizney Stadium |
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Aug. 25 Stanford |
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Oct. 19 Kentucky |
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Aug. 27 Syracuse |
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Oct. 26 South Carolina |
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Sept. 8 Florida State |
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Sept. 10 South Florida |
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Sept. 14 Mississippi |
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Sept. 24 Alabama |
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Oct. 5 Missouri |
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Florida faces four teams ranked in the USC preseason top 25. Three of the matches are at home - No. 2 Stanford (Aug. 25), No. 4 South Carolina (Oct. 26) and No. 15 Florida State (Sept. 8). Florida travels to meet preseason No. 10 Auburn (Oct. 13).
