Florida Gators

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 5 University of Florida soccer team had go beyond regulation time to get its first ever win in the Lone Star State Friday evening, defeating No. 9 Texas A&M 1-0 in the 94th minute of play. It was also UF's first victory over the Aggies, as the Gators lost to Texas A&M in 1995 and '96.
 
Senior All-American Danielle Fotopoulos' first goal of the 1998 season couldn't have come at a better  time, as her strike hit at full stride from 12 yards out finally found the back of the net for the Gators. Florida played the final 11 minutes of the match with 10 players as senior Tracy Ward was ejected from the game in the 84th minute after receiving her second yellow card of the evening.
 
It was a physical match, as three Gators were given a total of four yellow cards and two Texas A&M players were awarded two yellows. Florida outshot the Aggies 19-9 and Fotopoulos' goal came off of the Gators' second shot of the overtime period.
 
"Anytime you are on the road, especially against a team like A&M, and you are a man down and you come up with a win, that is a positive," UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh said. "Right now, we are not in sync as a team in game situations. Technically, we have the players to do it, but we just aren't getting it done right now. We as coaches have to figure out how to do it because we have the talent. We certainly had our chances tonight. I thought we had several opportunities that we just didn't finish tonight. I don't want to spend our whole season talking about unfinished opportunities, so we've got to get better. Finishing and possession is something we are going to focus on in upcoming practices."
 
Next up, the Gators meet No. 20 Southern Methodist in Dallas on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. (ET).