No. 8 Florida Soccer Finishes Regular-Season Action Thursday with Home Match versus Vanderbilt
Wednesday, October 29, 2014 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Florida – The University of Florida soccer team finishes its 2014 regular season Thursday when it plays host to Vanderbilt. Match time is set for 7 p.m. ET at the James G. Pressly Stadium and admission is free.
| Thursday's Match Info: | |||||
| No. 8 Florida (13-4, 8-2 SEC) versus Vanderbilt (7-9-2, 2-6-2 SEC)
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| @UFGatorSoccer (Becky Burleigh) | ||||
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Thursday's match is Halloween Eve and some spooky promotions are planned:
· Fright Night
Fans dress up in your favorite Halloween Costume to fright or delight, Gator Prize packs will be awarded to fans who are selected for the halftime costume contest
· Halloween Bags
The first 500 fans will receive a Gator Halloween bags.
Gator fans can also bring a non-perishable food item to the match to donate as the Gator soccer team looks to Strike Out Hunger. Those that bring a food donation are registered to win a Florida Soccer prize pack Donated items benefit numerous banks and pantries around the community.
The match can be seen on the SEC Network (Gainesville/Ocala Cox cable 68 or 1068) or on Watch ESPN. Listen to Adam Schick and Matthew Stubbington's call at GatorZone.com.
Last Meeting:
Florida and Vanderbilt did not meet last season. The two teams last faced each other in Nashville in October of 2012, with UF taking a 4-0 win. After a scoreless opening 50 minutes, Florida opened up a 3-0 lead in an eight-minute span. All-American Erika Tymrak started the Gators' scoring with her shot from 18-yards at 50:04. Jo Dragotta placed a 32-yard shot in the far post upper corner just over a minute and a half later. McKenzie Barney, put in the deflection off Havana Solaun's free kick at 57:33 to finish the scoring by the 2012 seniors. In less than two minutes after entering the match, Caroline Triglia put in the centering ball from Annie Speese in the 66th minute to close out UF's scoring.
In Last Weekend's Action for Florida:
Florida is coming off a pair of wins last weekend. The Gators took a 3-1 win over Tennessee Friday at the James G. Pressly Stadium. Tennessee took a 1-0 lead into halftime after senior Hannah Wilkinson scored in the fifth minute. With the Gators outshooting the Vols 22-4, Savannah Jordan finally put the Gators on the board in the 70th minute. She headed in the cross from Lauren Silver to tie the match. Then the Gators were awarded a penalty kick after UT was called for a handball in the box in the 75th minute. Senior Tessa Andujar successfully converted her first collegiate PK attempt to put the Gators ahead. Jordan finished off her third double-goal match of 2014 and the 10th multi-goal match of her career when she put the ball from Meggie Dougherty Howard in with her left foot from six yards in the 84th minute. Jordan now leads the SEC with 29 points and 13 goals.
The Gators finished 2014 regular-season road action with a 3-0 win at LSU on Sunday. Florida struck first in the opening half when Havana Solaun brought the ball down the center of the LSU half and played a leading pass to Jordan. Her right-footed shot from the middle of the box in the 23rd minute scored at the upper slot of the goal. Junior Brooke Smith scored her second goal of the season and of her career when she ran onto the low pass from Betsy Middleton down the middle of the box to touch it in from 10 yards in the 42nd minute. Solaun added a goal to her first-half assist when she took a touch to get past her defender above the LSU box. She moved through the LSU box and scored from eight yards in the 51st minute.
SEC Weekly Honors:
After her three-goal weekend, Jordan was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week. It was her third such honor of the season. She also was named the Capital One Cup Primetime Performer of the Week after her two goals versus Tennessee.
| SEC Standings | ||||
| (as of Oct. 26, 2014) | ||||
| Team | SEC | Pts | Overall | PCT |
| Texas A&M | 8-1-1 | 25 | 14-2-2 | .833 |
| Florida | 8-2-0 | 24 | 13-4-0 | .765 |
| Kentucky | 7-3-0 | 21 | 12-5-0 | .705 |
| Alabama | 5-3-2 | 17 | 10-5-3 | .639 |
| Georgia | 5-4-1 | 16 | 10-5-1 | .656 |
| Missouri | 5-4-1 | 16 | 10-5-3 | .639 |
| South Carolina | 4-3-3 | 15 | 11-4-3 | .694 |
| Arkansas | 4-3-3 | 15 | 8-5-5 | .583 |
| Auburn | 4-3-3 | 15 | 10-5-3 | .639 |
| Mississippi | 3-3-4 | 13 | 8-5-5 | .583 |
| Tennessee | 3-6-1 | 10 | 8-9-1 | .472 |
| Vanderbilt | 2-6-2 | 8 | 7-9-2 | .444 |
| LSU | 1-8-1 | 4 | 5-12-2 | .316 |
| Mississippi State | 0-10-0 | 0 | 3-14-0 | .177 |
SEC Title Race:
With one date left on the Southeastern Conference schedule for all league teams, No. 8 Florida is second to No. 7 Texas A&M. The Aggies lead the SEC with 25 points off its 8-1-1 record. The Gators are a point behind at 24 points (8-2 record). Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a tie.
Thursday evening, the Aggies play host to Georgia and Florida faces Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt Soccer in 2014:
In the Commodores last four matches, VU has turned in a 2-1-1 record (1-0 at Mississippi State, 2-0 versus Tennessee, tied South Carolina 1-1 2OT and 2-1 loss versus Mississippi). Sophomore Simone Charley leads VU with eight goals and three assists for 20 points.
2014 Records:
Florida: 13-4, 8-2 SEC
Vanderbilt: 7-9-2, 2-6-2 SEC
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 8 on the 10th National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.
