No. 12 Florida Soccer Team Plays Host to No. 17 LSU Thursday
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 | Soccer
The No. 12 University of Florida soccer team (11-4-2, 5-1-2 SEC) will play host to Southeastern Conference co-leader No. 17 LSU (10-3-3, 6-1-1 SEC) on Thursday, Oct. 22. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at the James G. Pressly Stadium. Admission is free for all 2009 Gator soccer regular-season matches.
Thursday is Florida's first cancer awareness match and the Gators will wear pink uniforms. The first 1,000 fans receive pink t-shirts, compliments of SUN Sports.
Florida is third in the current SEC standings, two points behind co-leaders LSU and South Carolina. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a tie.
Thursday's Match Info:Florida vs. LSU
Thursday, Oct. 22 @ 7 p.m. (ET)
Site: James G. Pressly Stadium (4,500)
Admission: Free
The Coaches: Becky Burleigh, 15th season @ UF (341-91-29/20 seasons overall - 259-68-23/UF), Brian Lee, fifth season at LSU (53-30-17) and 16th overall (197-110-27)
Television: none
Internet: live stats & streaming audio for UF-LSU match available on GatorZone.com
Streaming Video: live streaming video available on GatorVision
Match Promotions: Sun Sports T-Shirt Giveaway — The first 1,000 fans receive pink Gator Soccer t-shirts courtesy of Sun Sports; Volleyball Ticket Offer — The first 2,000 fans receive coupons for free admission to the Gator Volleyball match on Friday, October 23 vs. Arkansas 7 p.m.; Cancer Awareness Night — Throughout the match cancer facts and information will be displayed on the scoreboard; Health Care Employees and Patient Day — Coupons at area health care facilities with match information; Junior Gator Kids Zone — Goal-kick challenge, face-painting, prize wheel, mascot/Dazzler/Cheerleader photo opportunity; UF Sport Management Club Challenge — All members of the UF Sport Management program have been challenged to attract the most people to the match. The top 3 members will receive prizes including pre-game sideline passes at the Florida-Florida International game; Gator Soccer Shoot Out — One contestant will be selected to try to kick 3 out of 5 balls into the net from mid-field, if they are successful they will win $250 in cash!
For a complete list of promotions for Friday's match, please visit the Gator Outlook.
Florida won 2-1 at LSU in their last meeting during the 2008 regular season. Florida trailed LSU 1-0 at halftime, but goals by Ameera Abdullah and Tahnai Annis gave UF the narrow win. Slender winning margins is the norm when these two teams meet, as four of the last six meetings have been decided by a single goal. In the all-time series, UF leads 10-0-2.
Both teams turned in a tie and a win in last weekend's league action. UF opened last weekend with a 2-2 2OT tie at Tennessee on Friday. The Gators took the lead in the 13th minute when Holly King headed in an Angela Napolitano corner kick. UT tied the match in the 35th minute off a goal by Chelsea Hatcher. The Lady Vols took the lead in the 51st minute when Julie Edwards scored off a corner kick. Annis placed the ball crossed to her by Erika Tymrak in at the far post corner to tie the match in the 86th minute. On Sunday, a late goal headed in by Annis gave UF a 1-0 win at No. 23 Georgia. Annis scored off the deep cross from Lindsay Thompson, giving Thompson her first assist of the season. Annis was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week and to the Soccer America National Team of the Week after her efforts last weekend.
LSU opened last weekend with a 0-0 2OT tie versus Mississippi. In Sunday's action, the Tigers posted a 4-0 win over Mississippi State in Baton Rouge, La. LSU posted league wins over Georgia (6-0), Tennessee (5-1), Alabama (3-0), Auburn (2-0), Vanderbilt (2-1 OT) and lost at Kentucky 1-0. Senior Malorie Rutledge leads the Tigers with 23 points off of eight goals and seven assists. LSU turned in an 14-4-2 record in 2008 and advanced to the NCAA First Round. The Tigers tied for second in the SEC last season with its record of 7-3-1.
Live, streaming video of Thursday's match can be seen at GatorZone.com — just click on the GatorVision icon for more information. The match can be heard live with Adam Schick and Matthew Stubbington calling the action on AM 850 WRUF or via simulcast on Gainesville/Ocala Cox Cable channel 946 and www.GatorZone.com.
