Two quick first half goals was all the No. 20 University of Florida soccer team (4-2-1, 1-0 SEC) needed to defeat No. 12 Florida State University (5-3, 2-0 ACC) in front of a Percy Beard Stadium crowd of 3,472 – the fourth largest crowd in UF soccer history. The win ends the Seminoles' 12-match win streak vs. in-state schools and it was the Gators' first win vs. a ranked team this season.
The Gators entered the match owning a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams, but the two losses to the Seminoles came at the beginning and end of the 2000 season. UF opened the 2000 season with a 3-2 loss in Tallahassee and lost 2-1 in a home NCAA Second Round match.
"We definitely wanted to come out of here with a win. I'm sure it's a team we will probably see again so it was great for us to get the shutout and get two goals," UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh said. "I think it was a chance for us to prove ourselves. To get the shutout was what we really talked about because this is the first game they've been shutout all year. That was a big priority for us."
"What was good about us was were opportunistic, too. When we scored our two goals, we had six shots at the time so it was a little bit better than what we've had in the last couple games. We had talked about it all week."
The Gators' first goal came at 29:23, when senior Abby Wambach put in a six-yard shot off the assist from fellow senior Andi Sellers. Sellers also had the assist on Florida's next goal. She passed the ball to sophomore Casey Hamel, who sent a blast untouched into goal from 28-yards at 31:01. The goal was the first collegiate goal for Hamel.
"We've been working on facing a low-pressure defense in practice not just this week, but last week as well. I think it's good because it's something that we know we are going to face especially once we hit the playoffs when teams have to get a result, so it's good for us to be successful against it," Burleigh said. "Even after the first goal, I think they still thought 'Well, let's stay in the low pressure and maybe counter and get a second.' Once we got the second goal they had to step out a little higher. Florida State is a good team. They've got some size in the back that makes a good match up with Abby. I think our combination plays were what scored it. That second goal was a great goal. It was a three-man combination, which is what we emphasized all week."
For the match, UF edged the Seminoles in shots 12-10. In goal, UF's Jordan Kellgren and FSU's Ali Mimis each turned in four saves.
Next up, the Gators complete their four-match homestand by playing host to Southeastern Conference rival South Carolina on Sunday, Sept. 30. Match time is set for noon at Percy Beard Stadium and admission is free.
