No. 13 Florida Soccer Team Opens Home Season with Texas Tech Friday
Thursday, September 1, 2011 | Soccer
The No. 13 University of Florida soccer team (3-1, 0-0 SEC) makes its first home appearance of the 2011 season this Friday when it plays host to Texas Tech (3-1, 0-0 Big 12). This is the first meeting between Florida and the Big 12 opponent. Play begins at 7 p.m. Friday at the James G. Pressly Stadium and admission is free to all 2011 Gator soccer regular-season matches.
Friday's Match Info#13 Florida (3-1-0, 0-0-0 SEC)
vs. Texas Tech (3-1-0, 0-0-0 Big 12)
Date & Time: Sept. 2, 2011 @ 7 p.m. ET
Site: James G. Pressly Stadium (4,500)
The Coaches: Becky Burleigh, 17th season @ UF (368-96-32/21st season overall - 286-73-26/UF), Tom Stone, 35-34-8/5 years at Texas Tech and overall
Television: none
Radio: live on WRUF SportsRadio 850
GatorVision: live streaming video and audio for UF-TTU match available at http://www.gatorvision.tv/
Internet: live stats and audio for UF-Texas Tech match available on www.GatorZone.com
Tickets: free
Match Promotions:
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ABBY WAMBACH & HEATHER MITTS AUTOGRAPH SESSION! - US Women's National team members and former Gator greats, Abby Wambach and Heather Mitts, will sign post-match autographs 2011 Fall Schedule Key Tag Giveaway - The first 1,000 fans will receive fall schedule key tags courtesy of Sun Sports!;; Soccer Collies - the incredible soccer-playing collie duo will be on hand at halftime to show that not only can Gators play soccer, but dogs can too!
Complete list of Gator Promotions
Gator All-Americans and 2011 U.S. World Cup players Heather Mitts (1996-99) and Abby Wambach (1998-01) will sign autographs post-match Friday. Both joined the U.S. National Team in 2001. Mitts was part of the U.S. gold medal teams at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Wambach joined Mitts on the 2004 Olympic team and was part of the 2003 and 2007 World Cup rosters. She received the 2011 World Cup Silver Ball as the second-best player of the event after scoring four goals.
Florida split in its two matches at last weekend's First Tennessee Lady Vol Classic in Knoxville, Tenn. A goal in the final 15 seconds of regulation gave the Gators a 3-2 win over No. 15 Texas A&M Friday in the opening match of the Lady Vol Classic. Junior McKenzie Barney scored the game-winner off the cross from senior Jazmyne Avant. It was the only goal of the second half after each team turned in a pair in the opening 45 minutes. Junior Erika Tymrak scored the first goal of the match off the through ball from freshman Havana Solaun. The Aggies scored the next two goals, taking the lead in the 36th minute. A diving header by Taylor Travis off the cross from Lindsay Thompson in the 39th minute knotted the match at 2-all. On Sunday, then-No. 15 UCLA used a goal in each half to shutout the Gators 2-0. Avant, Tymrak and Kathryn Williamson represented UF on the all-tournament team.
Texas Tech is 3-1 this season with wins over Rice (1-0), New Mexico State (1-0) and Saint Mary's (2-0). TTUs only loss was to Mississippi (1-0). The Red Raiders tied for seventh in 2010 Big 12 action with its record of 4-5-1. Senior midfielder Taylor Lytle appears on the 2011 Preseason All-Big 12 team. Junior midfielder Tiffini Smith leads the Red Raiders in 2011 with three points off of one goal and one assist.
Florida is picked to repeat as the Southeastern Conference champions in the preseason vote by the league coaches. Texas Tech is picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 after posting a 2011 record of 11-8-1.The Gators have won 11 SEC titles, including the last four, since the program started in 1995.
Friday'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 Mathew Stubbington covering the action. Live streaming video of the match is also available on GatorVision Online.
