No. 8 Florida Soccer Meet Arkansas Sunday at Dizney Stadium for Gator Senior Day
Saturday, October 24, 2015 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Florida – The University of Florida soccer team plays host to Arkansas for the regular-season home finale. The match is set for 6 p.m. at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium and admission is free.
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| No. 8 Florida (12-3-1, 6-2-1 SEC) versus Arkansas (5-10-1, 1-7-1 SEC)
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| @UFGatorSoccer (Becky Burleigh) |
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Gator Senior Day
The careers of Florida's three-member senior class will be celebrated in a pre-match ceremony – Claire Falknor, Lauren Smith and Christen Westphal.
This class has amassed a four-year record of 66-17-5 (.778). They have been a part of two Southeastern Conference title teams and advanced to NCAA play each of the last three seasons.
The 66 wins ranks No. 7 in the nation over the last four seasons of NCAA Division I action.
SEC Standing Close as Season Winds Down
The SEC standings are extremely tight, with two teams (Florida, Missouri) leading with identical 6-2-1 league records for 19 points and three teams are right behind with 6-3 records for 18 points (Auburn, Mississippi, Texas A&M). Through nine league matches played, the range in points between positions No. 1-5 was eight points in both 2014 and 2013 (24 for 1st, 16 for 5th). The SEC schedule consisted of 13 league matches in 2012 and moved to an 11-match slate in 2013.
Here's how to follow the Gators
Can't join the Gators Friday at Dizney Stadium? Here's how to follow the action:
· Follow the stream of the Florida-USC match on SEC Network +
· Hear Joel Sebastianelli and Matthew Stubbington's call of Sunday's match on ESPN 95.3FM/850AM or at GatorZone.com.
Two Places to Call Home
During the course of the Gators' eight home-match schedule, the team will play at two venues – James G. Pressly Stadium and Dizney Stadium. Florida's SEC opener and regular-season finale will be played at Dizney Stadium in 2015.
Playing at Dizney Stadium during the regular season gives Florida venue options if the Gators are fortunate to be in position to host post-season action. A team needs to play at least two matches at a venue to have that site eligible for post-season play.
Last season's meeting between Florida and Arkansas:
When these two teams met early in 2014 SEC play in Fayetteville, the match featured the remaining unbeaten league teams, as Florida was 4-0 and the Razorbacks were 2-0-2 in SEC play. Florida used goals from three different Gators to take the 3-1 win. Liz Slattery scored on a diving header, set up by the short corner kick between senior teammates Annie Speese and Havana Solaun. Savannah Jordan touched in a cross from Jillian Graff with her left foot in the 35th minute. The Razorbacks narrowed the lead to a single goal at 61:35. Andujar scored her first goal of the season on a left-footed shot to the upper far corner in the 81st minute to give UF the final margin.
Florida leads the all-time series 19-0. Six of the last 11 matches between these two teams were decided by a single goal, including two overtime decisions.
Gators Beat the Clock for Thursday's SEC Win:
The two teams come into Sunday's match on the opposite ends of one goal decisions. Florida took a key 2-1 double overtime win versus No. 17 South Carolina Thursday at the James G. Pressly Stadium. The Gamecocks scored first in the sixth minute off a goal from Savannah McCaskill. Another Savannah, this time Florida's Savannah Jordan, tied the match in the 21st minute after she ran down the long ball from Christen Westphal and put in left-footed, sharp-angled shot. That finished the scoring for nearly the next hour. With time evaporating in the second overtime, Liz Slattery picked up the ball that popped free in USC box. She moved right with a couple of touches before sending a chip that scored at the far post upper slot. That goal at 109:59 is the latest ever for Florida in the two 10-minute golden goal format.
Three Gators are among SEC offensive leaders through Oct. 23 play. Jordan leads the league in goals (15) and points (35) while Westphal leads in assists (9). Sharp also checks in tied for seventh for goals (9) and eighth in points (21). Jordan is in the nation's top 10 for goals and points. Westphal shares No. 11 nationally with her nine assists.
About the UA Razorbacks:
Arkansas opened the season with three consecutive wins before a 4-2 loss at then No. 6 Penn State. That was the first of four 2015 matches versus top 25 teams – then No. 22 Kentucky (2-1 loss on Sept. 27), then No. 10 South Carolina (2-2 2OT on Oct. 2) and No. 16 Texas A&M (1-0 on Oct. 23). Of Arkansas' last 12 matches, all but the 2-2 2OT tie versus South Carolina were decided by a single goal. Friday at Texas A&M, Arkansas lost 1-0. Junior Claire Kelly leads Arkansas with 15 points off of six goals and three assists. All-SEC senior Ashleigh Ellenwood, who is second for Arkansas with five goals and 11 points, appeared in seven matches before being sidelined with an injury. Colby Hale is in his fourth season as head of the Razorback program.
Team Records:
Florida: 12-3-1, 6-2-1 SEC – currently tied for first in SEC standings
UA: 5-10-1, 1-7-1 SEC – currently 14th in SEC standings
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 8 on the October 20 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.
