Florida Faces Florida Gulf Coast in NCAA Soccer Opening Round Play Saturday
Saturday, November 12, 2011 | Soccer
No. 2 region seed Florida faces Atlantic Sun Conference tournament champion Florida Gulf Coast (14-4-2, 7-1-1 A-Sun) in NCAA Championship opening round action Saturday at 7 p.m. at the James G. Pressly Stadium.
| Saturday's Match Info: |
| No. 2 region seed Florida (16-7-0, 7-4-0 SEC) vs. Florida Gulf Coast (14-4-2, 7-1-1 A-Sun)
Date & Time: Nov. 12, 2011 @ 7 p.m. ET The Coaches: Becky Burleigh, 17th season @ UF (381-102-32/22nd season overall – 299-79-26/UF), Jim Blankenship – 298-95-21/18 season overall & 57-24-10/sixth season at FCGU Television: none Radio: live on WRUF SportsRadio 850 GatorVision: live streaming video and audio for UF-FGCU match available at GatorVision Internet: live stats and audio for UF-FGCU match available on www.GatorZone.com Single Day Tickets: $7 adults; $3 children 12 and under. Contact the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-468, extension 6800 for further information. NCAA Championship Links: In 2011, the NCAA is offering the NCAA First Round program in a digital format. It is free to view and no programs will be sold at the venue. |
Tickets are $7 for adults, $3 for children up to age 12 and senior citizens. Purchase tickets at the Gator Ticket Office, located at Gate 1 of the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium through Friday or after 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Pressly Stadium.
UF is one of 32 programs playing host to 2011 NCAA First Round action this weekend. Format for the NCAA Soccer Championship is altered this year as the field plays a 1-2-1-2 schedule over the next four weeks instead of a 2-1-1-2 as in years past. In 2011, first round action will be played on the opening weekend of play, Nov. 11, 12 or 13. The second and third rounds of play will be conducted next weekend (Nov. 18 and 20) at eight campus sites. NCAA Quarterfinal action will be held Nov. 25, 26 or 27 on four campus sites with the Women's College Cup set for Dec. 2 and 4 in Kennesaw, Ga.
Florida makes its 15th NCAA appearance in the program's 17-year history in 2011 and this is the Gators' ninth consecutive NCAA bid. Last year, Florida played host to NCAA First and Second Round action, defeating Mercer 3-0 and falling 4-2 in penalty kicks to Duke after playing to a scoreless tie.
Saturday's match will be the second meeting this season between the two teams. Five different Gators scored as Florida turned in a 5-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast University on Sept. 11 in the first ever meeting between the two teams. The Gators got goals from Tessa Andujar, Erika Tymrak, Lauren Silver, Caroline Triglia and Lindsay Thompson.
Florida Gulf Coast is making its first NCAA appearance in 2011, not only for the soccer team, but for the entire FGCU athletic program. FGCU received notification Aug. 11 that it is officially a NCAA Division I member after waiting out the four-year Division I transition period. The Eagles won their first Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship Sunday with a 1-0 double overtime decision over Mercer in FGCU's first appearance in the conference tournament. Senior Gina Petracco leads the Eagles with 21 points off of eight goals and five assists. Redshirt junior Ashley Ciesielczyk is the FGCU assist leader with 12, which ranks sixth in the nation. FGCU senior goalkeeper Stephanie Powers stands No. 28 in the nation with her goals against average of 0.67 and she also has 12 shutouts.
Florida is 11-6 against teams in the 2011 tournament field. The Gators have registered wins against No. 3 region seed Texas A&M, Alabama (Oct. 9 and Nov. 4), Auburn (Oct. 7), Florida Gulf Coast, Florida International, Georgia (Sept. 23 and Nov. 2), Kansas, Kentucky and Miami. UF has losses versus No. 1 region seed Florida State, No. 2 region seed UCLA, Auburn (Nov. 6), LSU, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Saturday's match can be heard on WRUF SportsRadio 850, by simulcast on Cox Channel 946 (Gainesville/Ocala) or on www.GatorZone.com with Adam Schick and Matthew Stubbington calling the action.
