No. 7 Florida Soccer Team Plays Host to USF Sunday
Saturday, August 29, 2009 | Soccer
The No. 7 University of Florida soccer team (2-0, 0-0 SEC) finishes its opening weekend of home action by facing USF (1-0, 0-0 Big East) on Sunday, Aug. 30. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at the James G. Pressly Stadium. The first 2,500 fans at Sunday's match receive a 2009 UF soccer schedule poster courtesy of Tower Hill Insurance. Admission is free for all 2009 Gator soccer regular-season matches.
Both teams are undefeated and unscored upon in early 2009 action. Florida opened 2009 home action last Friday with a 3-0 win over Florida International. All three Florida goals came in the second half. Sophomore Lindsay Thompson headed in the first goal in the 62nd minute off the deflection of an Angela Napolitano free kick. Freshmen Erika Tymrak and Brooke Thigpen each turned in their first collegiate goals within a 12-minute span. The Gators opened the season with a 1-0 win at Miami on Aug. 21. Senior Ashlee Elliott headed in the game winner in the 49th minute off the assist from fellow senior Tricia Townsend. Elliott and fellow senior Lauren Hyde both are returning All-Southeastern Conference selections. Both are part of the 11-member 2009 All-SEC preseason team.
| Sunday's Match Info |
| Match: No. 7 Florida (2-0) vs. USF (1-0) |
USF opened the season with a 1-0 home win over Florida Atlantic on Aug. 28. The Bulls played two exhibition matches, using a 2-0 scores to defeat both Jacksonville (Aug. 16) and St. Leo (Aug. 22). Senior goalkeeper Mallori Lofton-Malachi trained with the U.S. National Team this past spring after turning in a 0.81 GAA last season for the Bulls. Three Bulls – Gina Pachero, Bahar Sansar and Taylor Patterson - were named to the Canadian U-20 National Team and played in a pair of friendly matches against the U.S. U-20 team July 14 and 16. The Bulls turned in a 7-8-3 record in 2008, finishing 12th in the Big East Conference.
Florida returns eight starters from 2008 NCAA Tournament play. The top returning scorers are sophomores Tahnai Annis (9 goals, 4 assists, 22 points) and Lindsay Thompson (7g, 3a, 17pt) plus seniors Elliott (4g, 3a, 11pts) and Angela Napolitano (5g, 3a, 13pts). Florida also returns four other starting field players – senior Lauren Hyde and Caitlin Howard, junior Nicky Kit and sophomore Jazmyne Avant. Junior goalkeeper Katie Fraine turned in 10 starts in 2008, including all three of Florida's 2008 NCAA matches.
Live, streaming video can be seen at www.GatorZone.com – just click on the GatorVision icon for more information. Sunday's match can also be heard live on AM 850 WRUF and www.GatorZone.com. Adam Schick and Matthew Stubbington will cover the action Sunday.
