The University of Florida soccer team used three second-half goals to erase a halftime deficit to claim a 3-1 win Friday evening in front of a James G. Pressly Stadium crowd of 1,893.
| Friday's SEC Results |
| No. 8 Florida 3, Tennessee 1 |
| No. 6 Texas A&M 2, Arkansas 1 |
| No. 21 South Carolina 1, Vanderbilt 1 2OT |
| Alabama 2, No. 22 Georgia 0 |
| Kentucky 2, LSU 0 |
| Missouri 3 Mississippi 3 2OT |
| Auburn 2, Mississippi State 0* |
| *played Thursday |
The Vols took a 1-0 lead into halftime after senior Hannah Wilkinson took the ball from Susan Ferguson from above the box, looked up and then hit a 25-yard shot to the far post in the fifth minute.
With the Gators owning a 22-5 advantage in shots, Florida finally got on the board in the 70th minute. Annie Speese played a ball to Lauren Silver deep in the UT end. The cross Silver sent in was headed in by Savannah Jordan at the middle of the goal.
A penalty kick in the 75th minute was the go-ahead goal for the Gators. Tennessee was called for a handball in the box when Tessa Andujar tried to follow up after a shot from Havana Solaun. Who takes the penalty kick is decided among the players on the field and Andujar stepped up to take what would be her first PK of her collegiate career.
Jordan's second goal of the evening gave UF the final 3-1 margin. Fellow sophomore Meggie Dougherty Howard played a low ball through the box, which Jordan put in with her left foot from six yards.
Gator Stars:
● Jordan's two goals tonight pushes her career total of multi-goal matches to 10. It was her third double-goal match of 2014 (two goals at New Mexico on Sept. 14 and two versus Mississippi State on Oct. 10). She leads UF in 2014 with 13 goals and 29 points.
● Andujar's goal off the penalty kick pushes her career total to six goals and gives her a career season-high total of three. Her previous high of two goals in a season came as a freshman in 2011.
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| Florida's Seniors Nine Gator seniors - Tessa Andujar, Annie Bobbitt, Taylor Burke, Lindsey Cooper, Jillian Graff, Karina Gutsche, Lauren Silver, Havana Solaun and Annie Speese – were 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 66-22-2 (.744). 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 90 matches played since 2011 and this class has represented 39 percent of the minutes played in that time. |
2014 Records:
Florida: 12-4, 7-2 SEC
Tennessee: 8-8-1, 2-6-1 SEC
What the Gators Said:
Was it important to have a Senior Night win?
“These seniors have done so much for us and I think that it was up to us to send them out on a good note.
I think the most important thing is that we rediscovered ourselves again tonight. We had lacked a little bit of urgency in last weekend's games and that was not at all evident tonight. I think they played hard on both sides of the ball.
I think we played a good brand of team soccer. There was so much interchange of positions, the ball kept switching fields. It was difficult for Tennessee to defend that. Actually I think they did pretty well considering how we played. I was really happy with our performance tonight.” – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh
How did getting the win on Senior Night feel?
“It felt really good. I think we came out really strong and we were just confident in our play.” – senior defender Tessa Andujar
What led to the penalty kick and what led to you taking the kick?
“Havana [Solaun] took a great shot and I tried to follow it up. The Tennessee girl was called for a hand ball. I had always said 'If I created the PK, then I will take it.' [Annie] Speese said 'You got it.' So my teammates gave me confidence and I felt confident. Luckily it went in.
“In my mind, I just said 'I'm taking this PK and I'm scoring this goal.
“I haven't taken one in a long, long time.
“I was really happy because my mom was here so she doesn't get to come out from California that much. So I was really happy to score for her.” – senior defender Tessa Andujar
On the Gators' patience on offense:
“I think our team did a good job of not feeling pressure and being patient. The first 70 minutes, we had tons of chances on goal and that can get frustrating when we can't put one away. I think our team a great job staying patient and finding the net.”
“Once our team gets one goal, we tend to settle down because we feel like more are coming. I think we stayed patient the entire game. After that first goal, things opened up for us. We just had a ton of chances after that.
“Before the game, we talked about staying focused. Just to lock in on every situation so if it was going bad for us or good, I think we did a good job of locking in and waiting for the right opportunities and not forcing things. Once we got the first goal, we kind of settled in and relaxed after that.” – sophomore forward Savannah Jordan
What happened on your goals?
Goal 1
“It was a really good build up from our midfield. Speese played it out to Lauren Silver. She committed the defender first – it was a great run. Lauren got in. It was a great serve by her and I headed it back post.
“She had served me one earlier in the game and so it was kind of payback after I kind of missed that one.”
Goal 2
“Great run by Meggie [Dougherty Howard] to come forward. I think Lauren Silver played it out to Meggie. Meggie committed both center backs and she had an option between me and Hav [Havana Solaun). She played a great ball into me and I finished it first time.” – sophomore forward Savannah Jordan
What did you tell the team at halftime?
“Honesty, at halftime, we told the team that was one of the most complete performances we've had in a half. We just wanted to equal that in the second half.
“I was really proud of the way our team responded because I think it would have been very easy for us to hang our heads after giving up the early goal. I thought we just picked up the intensity and just kept knocking, knocking, knocking on the on the door. Hit the post, hit the crossbar, hit the keeper – I think they really had to believe it was just going to come and they did.” – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh
On the performance of both teams tonight:
“I think they came out really hard. They are a great team. We were just confident in our play, we believed in ourselves and trusted our style of play. I think we did a great job coming back.” – senior defender Tessa Andujar
Worth Noting
● Florida is now 15-8-2 all-time versus the Vols, including 9-2 in Gainesville.
● Florida was awarded a penalty kick in each half – the team's first PKs of the season. The first in the opening half by Solaun was saved by UT goalkeeper Jamie Simmons. Andujar successfully converted the second PK in the 75th minute. Last year in Knoxville, Tennessee, Florida also turned in its first successful PK of the season when Solaun scored after the kick was awarded just 39 seconds into the second half.
● Senior outside back Lauren Silver was not with the Gators for last weekend's two matches, as she was with Jamaica for CONCACAF group play (Jamaica did not advance to semifinals). She turned in an assist on the Gators' first goal tonight. It was her second assist of the season.
● Speese also earned an assist on the Gators' first goal Friday – the 25th of her career.
● For the fourth consecutive match, the Gators gave up the first goal. On Oct. 14, Mississippi State scored first in a 5-1 UF win. South Carolina scored the opening two goals in an eventual 3-2 USC win on Oct. 16 and UF was shutout 2-0 at Kentucky on Oct. 19.
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 two matches remaining, Texas A&M leads the SEC with 24 points and Florida is second with 21 points.
Tennessee is 12th in the SEC with its 2-6-1 record.
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 8 on the ninth National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.
Next up:
The Gators are in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Sunday for the team's final road match of the 2014 regular season. Match time is set for 2 p.m. ET at the LSU Soccer Stadium.
The Tigers are 5-11-2 overall and stand 13th in the SEC (1-7-1) after its 2-0 loss at Kentucky Friday.
The match can been seen on SEC Network+ or listen to Adam Schick's call of the match at GatorZone.com.
Tennessee (7-9-1, 2-6-1 SEC) at No. 8 Florida (12-4-0, 7-2-0 SEC)
Stadium: James G. Pressly Stadium (1,893)
Weather: Clear 74 deg. Wind: ENE 6 mph; 45% Humidity
| Goals by Period | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Tennessee | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Florida | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Scoring Summary
| No. | Time | Team | Goal Scorer | Assist | Description |
| 1. | 04:31 | UT | Hannah Wilkinson (5) | Susan Ferguson | From 25 yards |
| 2. | 69:53 | UF | Savannah Jordan | Lauren Silver, Annie Speese | 5yd header from center of field |
| 3. | 75:00 | UF | Tessa Andujar (3) | | Penalty kick |
| 4. | 83:50 | UF | Savannah Jordan (13) | Meggie Dougherty Howard | Left-footed 6yd shot from left side |
Shots: Tennessee 9, Florida 27
Saves: Tennessee 10 (Jamie Simmons 10) , Florida 5 (Taylor Burke 5)
