Florida soccer begins two-match stay in Sooner State at Oklahoma Friday
Thursday, August 28, 2014 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A six-match road stretch for Florida begins in the Sooner State. The Gators face a pair of Big 12 teams this weekend, opening at Oklahoma on Friday, Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. and then travel to Oklahoma State for a Sunday, Aug. 31 at 2 p.m.ET match.
| Friday's Match Info: | |
| No. 6 Florida (2-0, 0-0 SEC) at Oklahoma (1-0-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Date & Time: Aug. 29, 2014 @ 8 p.m. ET Site: John Crain Field – OU Soccer Complex (3,500) The Coaches: Becky Burleigh, 20th season @ UF (421-113-34/25th season overall – 339-90-28/UF), Matt Potter (101-91-32/13th season overall and 12-22-6/third season at OU)
Television: Fox College Sports Atlantic
Streaming Audio: Gatorzone.com
Streaming video: FOX Sports Go
Internet: live stats and audio for UF-OU match available on GatorZone.com
Admission: range in price from $8-$5. Visit OU Ticket Site for more information
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| @UFGatorSoccer (Becky Burleigh) |
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The six-match road stretch equals the longest in the program's history (also six straight road matches in 1999 and 2002). During this six-match road swing, the Gators will travel more than 9,000 miles.
Last Meeting Between Florida-OU:
Last season when the Gators and the Sooners met in Gainesville, the match was delayed an hour due to weather. .When play did begin, the Gators scored quickly. Pamela Begić headed in Florida's first goal at 8:55, marking her second consecutive match with a goal. The next two goals were the first of their Gator careers for Lauren Smith and Brooke Sharp, giving the Gators the final 3-0 margin. It was the first meeting between Florida and Oklahoma.
In the Gators' Opening Weekend:
The Gators opened the 2014 season with a pair of shutout wins versus in-state rivals. The season opened an hour late, as lightning delayed the start but the Gators scored quickly once play began. Senior Jillian Graff scored the first of her two goals of the match at 7:47 – the fourth quickest season opening goal for the Gators and the fastest since 1999. She also scored again in the second half and sophomore Savannah Jordan provided the final score.
On Sunday, lightning suspended the match in the second half. Senior Annie Speese scored the first of her two goals within 10 minutes of play resuming. She turned in her fifth career double-goal match with her 12-yard goal in the 85th minute as UF won 2-0 over South Florida.
This is the 11th time UF has opened the season 2-0 and the fourth time (also in 1998, 2009, 2011) the Gators shutout their first two opponents.
Snaps for Graff:
For her performance last weekend, Graff was named the Co-Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
2014 Records:
Florida: 2-0, 0-0 SEC (Opened season with wins versus Miami (3-0) and USF (2-0))
Oklahoma: 1-1, 0-0 Big 12 (Opened with 2-0 win over Oklahoma State and tied Utah 1-1 2OT)
Preseason Conference Votes:
Florida shared the 2013 Southeastern Conference title with Texas A&M as each team posted 9-2 league records. OU took seventh in the Big 12 Conference with its 1-7 league record.
Florida – The Gators are picked to win the Southeastern Conference.
OU – The Sooners are picked to finish ninth in Big 12 play in 2014. West Virginia is the preseason pick to win the Big 12.
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 6 on the first National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.
