Friday is Florida Soccer Senior Night; No. 8 Gators face Tennessee
Friday, October 24, 2014 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Florida – The University of Florida soccer team plays host to Tennessee this Friday at the James G. Pressley Stadium. Match time is set for 7 p.m. ET and admission is free for all Gator regular-season home matches.
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| No. 8 Florida (11-4, 6-2 SEC) versus Tennessee (7-8-1, 2-5-1 SEC)
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| @UFGatorSoccer (Becky Burleigh) | ||||||
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It is Senior Night and the careers of the Gators' nine-member class - Tessa Andujar, Annie Bobbitt, Taylor Burke, Lindsey Cooper, Jillian Graff, Karina Gutsche, Lauren Silver, Havana Solaun and Annie Speese - will be celebrated in a pre-match ceremony.
There are plenty of promotions surrounding Senior Night:
· Florida Soccer Replica t-shirt jersey
The first 500 fans will receive a Florida Soccer replica t-shirt jersey
· Strike Out Hunger
Join the Florida Soccer team helping those in need! Bring a non-perishable food item to the game to be registered to win a Florida Soccer prize pack! Donated items benefit numerous banks and pantries around the community.
· Sustainability Night
The Office of Sustainability will be on hand with the UF Sustainability hut to offer tips and ideas of how you can go green.
The match can be seen on the SEC Network+ or listen to Corey Brook's call at GatorZone.com.
Florida's Seniors
Nine Gator seniors will be honored prior to Friday's match. The class is the second largest in the program's 20-year history.
Florida's 2014 senior class has amassed a four-year record of 65-22-2 (.742). They have been a part of two Southeastern Conference title teams and advanced to NCAA play each of the last three seasons. At least one of the nine has been in the starting lineup of each of the 89 matches played since 2011 and this class has represented 39 percent of the minutes played in that time.
Last Season's Meeting:
Florida took a 3-0 win at Tennessee on Oct. 25, 2013. After a scoreless opening half, Havana Solaun scored two unassisted goals to put the Gators up 2-0. The first was a penalty kick just 39 seconds into second half play. Solaun scored her second goal of the evening when the corner kick she took from the left side in the 66th minute went untouched into the goal. Florida scored its final goal of the match when Taylor Travis sent a diagonal ball from the end line to Savannah Jordan, who scored from eight yards.
In Florida's Last Weekend:
Florida is coming off two consecutive league road losses. The Gators lost 3-2 at South Carolina on Oct. 16. The Gamecocks took a 2-0 lead into halftime after goals from Chelsea Drennan and Savannah McCaskill. Solaun scored an unassisted goal at 65:51 and then knotted the match with her goal at 84:41 off the assist from Annie Speese. USC's McCaskill headed in a corner kick in the 89th minute to give the Gamecocks the first win since 2009 for the home team in the regular-season meetings between UF and USC.
A goal in each half on Sunday gave Kentucky at 2-0 win Sunday. It was Florida's second shutout loss in 2014, with the first coming in 1-0 OT loss at then No. 4 Stanford on Sept. 12.
Tennessee Soccer in 2014:
Sophomore Amy Neal leads the Lady Vols with 10 points off of four goals and two assists. Junior Jamie Simmons has played every minute in goal for UT in 2014. She owns a goals-against-average of .97 and also has turned in six shutouts.
2014 Records:
Florida: 11-4, 6-2 SEC
Tennessee: 8-7-4, 3-5-4 SEC
Preseason Conference Votes:
Florida shared the 2013 Southeastern Conference title with Texas A&M as each team posted 9-2 league records. Tennessee finished tied for 11th in the SEC with a 3-5-4 record.
Florida – The Gators are picked to win the Southeastern Conference.
Tennessee – The Lady Vols are picked to take fifth in the SEC.
2014 SEC Standings:
With three matches remaining, Texas A&M leads the SEC with 21 points and Florida is second with 18 points.
Tennessee is tied for 11th in the SEC with its 2-5-1 record.
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 8 on the ninth National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.
