Florida Soccer Announces 2001 Schedule
Friday, May 25, 2001 | Soccer
The University of Florida soccer team faces another formidable schedule during the 2001 season, as six teams that earned NCAA Tournament berths last season appear on the Gators' 2001 schedule released Friday. The Gators' 2001 schedule also provides Florida fans plenty of opportunities to see the team in action, as 13 matches will be played at UF's Percy Beard Stadium.
"This schedule will test us throughout the season. It should prove to be one of the top schedules in the country this season, with some tough matches both home and on the road," UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh said. "It will be great for our fans because this schedule is packed with home dates - including several against teams that finished among the nation's top 20 last season."
The Gators open the 2001 campaign with two home matches against two first-time opponents. The Utah Utes will visit Percy Beard Stadium on Friday, Aug. 31 for the season opener for both teams and then Stanford, which reached the NCAA Second Round in 2000, meets the Gators for a Sunday, Sept. 2 contest.
The Southeastern Conference season gets its earliest start in the Gators' seven-year history when the five-time defending league champions travels to Baton Rouge, La., to meet Louisiana State University for a Friday, Sept. 7 match. Florida returns home to play host to Miami on Sunday, Sept. 9.
2000 NCAA quarterfinal participant Connecticut is next for the Gators, as UF travels to Storrs, Conn., for a Friday, Sept. 14 contest. The road trip continues when UF meets Syracuse on Sunday, Sept. 16. Florida then plays SMU for the first time since the 1998 season when the Mustangs visit Gainesville for a Friday, Sept. 21 match. Virginia, which reached the NCAA Round of 16 in 2000, makes its first visit to Gainesville since the 1997 season on Sunday, Sept. 23.
Florida State, which ended the Gators ' 2000 season with a 2-1 win in the NCAA Second Round, returns to Gainesville on Friday, Sept. 28. The Gators then begin a three-match home stretch of conference opponents with South Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 30. Vanderbilt meets the Gators on Friday, Oct. 5 and Kentucky visits Gainesville for a Sunday, Oct. 7 match.
The seven-match homestand ends with 2000 NCAA Second Round participant Duke on Friday, Oct. 12. It will be the first time the Blue Devils have met the Gators in Gainesville since the 1998 season.
Florida begins a three-match conference road stint on Sunday, Oct. 14 at Arkansas. The Gators then meet Tennessee on Friday, Oct. 19 in Knoxville, Tenn., before traveling to Athens, Ga., to meet Georgia for a Sunday, Oct. 21 match.
The Gators then return home to play host to the final three matches of the regular season. Mississippi State visits Percy Beard Stadium for a Friday, Oct. 26 match. Florida finishes SEC regular-season action on Sunday, Oct. 28 vs. two-time defending SEC Western Division champion Mississippi. Clemson, which reached the NCAA quarterfinals in 2000, will complete the Gators' 2001 regular season slate with a Saturday, Nov. 3 contest.
Louisiana State will play host to the 2001 SEC Tournament, Nov. 8-11 in Baton Rouge, La. The NCAA Tournament bracket will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 11.
The Florida soccer team claimed its fifth consecutive SEC title in 2000. The Gators, who finished the season with 16-8 record, received their fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth in 2000. Florida finished the season ranked No. 19 on the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.
2001 University of Florida Soccer Schedule
| Friday, Aug. 31 | Utah | Gainesville, Fla. | 6:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Sept. 2 | Stanford | Gainesville, Fla. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Friday, Sept. 7 | Louisiana State | Baton Rouge, La. | 8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Sept. 9 | Miami | Gainesville, Fla. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Friday, Sept. 14 | Connecticut | Storrs, Conn. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Sept. 16 | Syracuse | Syracuse, N.Y. | TBA |
| Friday, Sept. 21 | Southern Methodist | Gainesville, Fla. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Sept. 23 | Virginia | Gainesville, Fla. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Friday, Sept. 28 | Florida State | Gainesville, Fla. | 8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Sept. 30 | South Carolina | Gainesville, Fla. | Noon |
| Friday, Oct. 5 | Vanderbilt | Gainesville, Fla. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Oct. 7 | Kentucky | Gainesville, Fla. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 12 | Duke | Gainesville, Fla. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Oct. 14 | Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 19 | Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Oct. 21 | Georgia | Athens, Ga. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 26 | Mississippi State | Gainesville, Fla. | 7:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Oct. 28 | Mississippi | Gainesville, Fla. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, Nov 3 | Clemson | Gainesville, Fla. | TBA |
| Nov. 8-11 | Southeastern Conference Tournament | Baton Rouge, La. |
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| Wed., Nov. 14 | NCAA First Round | TBA |
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| Nov. 17-18 | NCAA Second Round | TBA |
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| Nov. 23-25 | NCAA Third Round | TBA |
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| Nov. 30-Dec. 2 | NCAA Quarterfinals | TBA |
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| Friday, Dec. 7 | NCAA Semifinals | Dallas, Texas |
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| Sunday, Dec. 9 | NCAA Championships | Dallas, Texas |
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All home matches at Percy Beard Stadium. All times Eastern and subject to change.
