Florida Gators

The No. 12 University of Florida soccer team (9-2-1, 4-0 SEC) turned in its sixth shutout win of the season with a 3-0 victory over Duke (4-7, 0-4 ACC) Friday evening in front of a Percy Beard Stadium crowd of 1,941.

The match was scoreless until the 42^nd minute when senior Abby Wambach took a shot off the pass from freshman Christine Johnson. The shot rebounded off the right post, where freshman Monica Hoyles, who had just entered the match at the 40:20, was there to take the six-yard shot for her first goal of her collegiate career.

"It hit the bar and I happened to be there. It was real exciting," Hoyles said. "It was a tough game, so it was really good to get a goal in before the end of the half."

Wambach scored twice for the Gators in the second half. She took the pass from Casey Hamel for a shot deep in the left corner, sending the sharp angle shot to the far post at 59:33. Robin Fulton was fouled at the corner of the box at 84:57, which gave the Gators their third penalty kick of the season. Wambach successfully converted the penalty kick to give the Gators the final margin of victory.

"I'll tell you, I think that was a very, very big win," UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh said. "Despite Duke's record, they are a good team. They're dangerous all the way around from their keeper all the way up to their forwards. I think they are having a string of bad luck and not getting the results that they want. They're as good a team that we have faced all season."

The Gators outshot the Blue Devils 13-8 Friday. UF's goalkeeper Jordan Kellgren recorded her fifth solo shutout Friday and turned in four saves. DU goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir turned in three saves.

Florida now begins a five-match stretch of Southeastern Conference matches, starting Sunday, Oct. 14 at Arkansas. Match time is set for 2:00 p.m. (ET) at the Lady 'Back Field.