No. 16 Florida Soccer Team Plays Host to No. 25 Kansas
Saturday, September 20, 2008 | Soccer
Two top-25 soccer teams meet Sunday afternoon when No. 16 Florida (4-2-1, 0-0 SEC) plays host to No. 25 Kansas (6-1, 0-0 Big 12). Match time is set for 1 p.m. at the James G. Pressly Stadium. This is the first meeting between the two programs and KU is the only first-time opponent on the Gators' 2008 regular-season schedule. Admission is free for all 2008 Gator soccer regular-season matches.
This is Florida's fourth consecutive match vs a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) top-25 team. Florida is coming off a 2-0 loss at No. 5 Portland Friday evening. Florida's results versus the other 2008 top-25 teams include a 1-0 win at then No. 4 Florida State on Sept. 7 and a 2-0 win versus then No. 18 Illinois on Sept. 12.
Kansas opened the season with five consecutive wins - Purdue (3-0), Auburn (2-1), Alabama-Birmingham (5-2), SMU (1-0) and Missouri State (4-1). The Jayhawks defeated UCF 3-2 in Orlando Sept. 19. KU's only loss (2-1 to Loyola Chicago) came last Sunday.
| Florida vs Kansas Match Promotions |
| U.S. Youth Soccer Day - U.S. Youth Soccer giveaway items will be distributed to children 12 and under. Youth League Day – Area youth leagues have been invited to the match. Teams that RSVP will be permitted to sit in a reserved seating section. All teams will be invited to the field at halftime for a youth league day parade around the track. Dodge Shoot Out – One contestant will be selected to kick 3 out of 5 balls into the net from mid-field. If successful, he/she wins $250 in cash!, Kicks for Kids – All kids 12 and under will be invited to the field after the match to kick a goal with Alberta! |
Freshmen are the season goals leaders for both teams, as Tahnai Annis has turned in four goals for the Gators while redshirt freshman Emily Cressy leads KU with five goals.
Kansas is the third Big 12 opponent to face Florida this season. The Gators opened the 2008 season with a 1-1 2OT tie at Colorado on Aug. 22 and posted a 6-1 win over Nebraska Aug. 31. All-time, Florida is 5-4-2 versus Big 12 teams.
This is Florida's final non-conference match of the 2008 regular season. League play opens for Florida next weekend when Georgia (Sept. 26) and Tennessee (Sept. 28) come to Pressly Stadium. These programs finished among the top three teams in the final 2007 SEC standings (No. 1 UF, No. 2 UGA, No. 3 UT).
Live, streaming video can for Sunday's match can be seen at www.GatorZone.com – just click on the GatorVision icon for more information. Adam Schick and Matthew Stubbington will cover the action Sunday.
