Florida's Tahnai Annis is SEC Freshman Soccer Player of the Week
Monday, August 25, 2008 | Soccer
University of Florida's Tahnai Annis (pronounced Tah-NAY ANN-is) is the Southeastern Conference's Freshman Soccer Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon. This is the first week for SEC Player of the Week honors as the collegiate season started last weekend for many teams. Other award winners this week include Vanderbilt redshirt freshman Catherine Wearn (SEC Offensive Player of the Week) and Auburn senior goalkeeper Allison Whitworth (SEC Defensive Player of the Week).
Annis (Zanesville, Ohio/Pickerington North H.S.) delivered the overtime winner in Florida's 2-1 OT win at Florida Atlantic Sunday, Aug. 24. Annis tucked the ball in at the post in the 95th minute to give the Gators their first victory of the 2008 season. She is the first Gator in the 14-year history of the program to score a golden goal as their first collegiate goal. Sunday's match was the second of her Gator career.
Annis is a 2007 & 2006 NSCAA/adidas Girls High School All-American and was named the 2007-08 Gatorade Ohio Girl's Soccer Player of the Year honor. She is part of the 16-member Gator freshmen class that is ranked as the nation's No. 8 class by SoccerBuzz.com.
Next up, the No. 20 Gators play host to their opening weekend of home action. Florida faces the same team it played in the 2007 season home finale, UCF, at 8 p.m. on Aug. 29 for the 2008 home opener at the James G. Pressly Stadium. UF and UCF played to a scoreless tie in 2007 NCAA Second Round action, with Florida advancing to the NCAA Round of 16 after taking a 4-3 advantage in penalty kicks. Florida also meets Nebraska on Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. in a match broadcast live on SUN Sports. Admission is free for all Gator soccer regular-season matches.
