No. 7 Florida soccer opens SEC road play at No. 24 Mississippi Friday
Wednesday, September 25, 2013 | Soccer
Florida soccer opens Southeastern Conference road action at Mississippi on Friday, Sept. 27 at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium. Match time is set for 8 p.m. and can be seen on Rebel Vision.
| Friday's Match Info: | |
| No. 7 Florida (7-1-1, 1-0 SEC) at No. 24 Mississippi (8-1-1, 1-0 SEC)
Date & Time: Sept. 27, 2013 @ 8 p.m. ET Site: Ole Miss Soccer Stadium (1,500) Press Box Phone: (662) 915-7851 The Coaches: Becky Burleigh, 19th season @ UF (408-109-34/24th season overall – 326-86-28/UF), Matthew Mott (28-28-5/fourth season overall and at UM)
Television: none
Radio: GatorZone
Streaming video: live streaming video available on RebelVision
Internet: live stats and audio for UF-UM match available on www.GatorZone.com
Admission: free | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| @UFGatorSoccer (Becky Burleigh) |
|
| |
|
| |
The two teams have nearly identical records, as Florida is 7-1-1 and Mississippi 8-1-1. Both teams opened SEC play last Friday with a win.
Last Weekend
Florida
Florida opened SEC play with a 3-0 home win versus Alabama on Sept. 20, with all three goals coming from Gator freshmen. Both opening half goals came off the right foot of Savannah Jordan, who pushed her season total to 10. Jordan scored her first from five yards off assists from Lindsey Cooper and Havana Solaun. Then she hit the post with a 12-yard shot off the assists from Meggie Dougherty Howard and Brooke Smith, which kicked in for Jordan's fourth double-goal match of the season. Liz Slattery headed in her first collegiate goal off the cross from Tessa Andujar to give Florida the final margin.
About the Rebels:
This will be the second match versus a top-20 team for Mississippi this season, as the Rebels played then No. 13 Southern California to a 1-1 2OT tie on Sept. 6 in Minneapolis, Minn. The Rebels are currently on a four-match win streak – they also opened the season with four consecutive wins. Minnesota handed Mississippi its only loss of the season, 2-1 OT, on Sept. 8 in Minneapolis, Minn. Senior Rafaelle Souza, a 2012 NSCAA All-South Region first-team selection and part of the latest Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week, shares the nation's goals lead with 11. She scored both goals in Mississippi's come-from-behind 2-1 win at Arkansas last Friday. Mississippi was 13-9-0 in 2012 and finished ninth in the SEC with a 5-8-0 record. Florida and Mississippi met in 2012 SEC Tournament second round, with the Gators advancing with a 2-1 win.
Preseason Conference Votes:
Florida – Gators are picked to take second in the Southeastern Conference. Texas A&M topped the coaches' vote for 2013 league title.
Mississippi – The Rebels are picked to finish ninth in SEC.
Becky Burleigh Says:
“Mississippi has one of the most dynamic strikers in the country, in Rafaelle Souza, and a great combination with her. Mandy McCalla is another great player for them. And they've had a terrific season so far.”
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 7 on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll and Mississippi moved into the top 25 this week, holding the No. 24 position.
