GAINESVILLE, Florida – The University of Florida soccer team finished regular-season home action Sunday with a 4-0 win over Arkansas in front of a Donald R. Dizney Stadium crowd of 921.
| Sunday's SEC Results |
| No. 8 Florida 4, Arkansas 0 |
| Missouri 1, Vanderbilt 0 |
| No. 17 South Carolina 1, LSU 1 2OT |
| Mississippi State 2, Alabama 1 |
| Georgia 1, No. 16 Auburn 0 |
| Kentucky 1, Tennessee 1 2OT |
| No. 13 Mississippi 4, No. 23 Texas A&M 3 |
| |
The win leaves Florida in a two-way tie for first in the Southeastern Conference standings. Both Florida and Missouri enter the final league match with 7-2-1 SEC records for 22 points. Mississippi is one point behind with its 7-3 SEC record.
After a scoreless opening half, it took less than a minute for the Gators to score their first goal. From above the box, junior Meggie Dougherty Howard passed the ball to Melanie Monteagudo at top corner of the box. Monteagudo was knocked down, with the ball springing free just outside of the box. Dougherty Howard continued her run, picking up the ball and taking it end line. The cross she sent across the face of the goal was placed just inside the far post by Brooke Sharp at 45:57.
A corner kick just under 10 minutes later pushed the lead out to 2-0. The ball sent by Christen Westphal traveled to the far post. Savannah Jordan's header banged the underside of the crossbar and kicked in at 55:40.
A freshmen duo combined for a pair of collegiate firsts on Florida's third goal. A counterattack started with Gator goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese's long throw out right to fellow freshman Briana Solis. Solis brought the ball from the top of the Florida final defensive third into the Arkansas box. She scored her first collegiate goal on a right-footed, eight-yard shot in the 72nd minute. It was also Marckese's first collegiate assist.
Just over 30 seconds later, a trio of juniors combined for Florida's final goal of the match. Dougherty Howard passed the ball to Betsy Middleton, who was making a run down the left side of the box. Middleton one-touched an angled ball to the far post, which Jordan put in from two-yards with her right foot.
Worth Noting:
· Sharp's goal just 57 seconds in is Florida's second quickest score to start the second half this season. The low is Westphal's goal at 45:29 versus Mississippi on Sept. 18.
· Jordan's two goals tonight gives her a league-high 17 for the season. It was her fourth multi-goal match of 2015 and 15th of her career.
· Marckese is the third Gator goalkeeper to be credited with an assist. Brittni Goodwin (2003-06) and Taylor Burke (2011-14) each recorded two assists as Gator goalkeepers.
· The league's leaders for goals and assists again connected for Florida's second goal. It was Westphal's 10th assist of the season and half of those assists were on a Jordan goal.
· The final result was Florida's third shutout of the season (2-0 at then No. 17 UCF/Aug. 21; 4-0 at Jacksonville/Sept. 13).
· Marckese's six saves sets her collegiate high.
· Two assists by Dougherty Howard matches a Gator match-high for 2015. Westphal also had two assists at Florida International on Sept. 20.
Florida Senior Day
Prior to Sunday's match, the careers of Florida's three seniors – Claire Falknor, Lauren Smith and Christen Westphal – was celebrated. The class has amassed a four-year record of 67-17-5 (.781). They have been a part of two Southeastern Conference title teams and advanced to NCAA play each of the last three seasons.
The 67 wins ranks No. 7 in the nation over the last four seasons of NCAA Division I action.
Two Gators with Double-Digit Goals Total
With Brooke Sharp's goal tonight, she upped her season goals total to 10. She joins fellow junior Savannah Jordan with a double-digit goals total for 2015.
This is the 11th time in Florida soccer's 21-year history that two or more players have reached double-digit goal totals in a single season.
| Seasons with Two or More Double Digit Gator Goal Scorers |
| Year | Player | Goals | Player | Goals | Player | Goals |
| 2015 | Jordan | 17 | Sharp | 10 | | |
| 2011 | Tymrak | 12 | Annis | 10 | | |
| 2010 | Barney | 14 | Annis | 13 | | |
| 2006 | Bishop | 12 | Abdullah | 11 | | |
| 2003 | McMillan | 12 | Kellgren | 11 | | |
| 2001 | Wambach | 31 | Sellers | 13 | | |
| 2000 | Wambach | 23 | Sellers | 20 | | |
| 1999 | Yohe | 24 | Wambach | 23 | Sellers | 15 |
| 1998 | Fotopoulos | 32 | Wambach | 19 | | |
| 1997 | Sellers | 23 | Yohe | 20 | Pini | 18 |
| 1996 | Fotopoulos | 34 | Pini | 22 | | |
| 2015 totals are current through 10/25/15; all other years are final season totals |
What the Gators Said:
On not only the win, but also the shutout:
"I'm so excited we got a shutout. It was a really good team win. Arkansas is not an easy team to play against. They present a lot of different problems that we really haven't seen as much of this year, so for our team to come out with a convincing victory is a really good step for us." – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh
On the differences for Florida in the first and second halves:
"(Coach) Alan (Kirkup) talked about committing more numbers to the ball because that's exactly what happened on that first goal right off the bat in the first minute -- we had a lot of numbers in there. That made a big difference. We said during halftime that we felt like once we could get one, we could have a chance to get more.
“It was a good team effort. We got a lot of people in the game and a lot of experience. It was great to be able to recognize the seniors at the end of the game because they've made such a big contribution to this program, and I thought that was pretty cool." – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh
On honoring Florida's three seniors:
"Senior Night around here has always been a really, really special night. I think it's up to everybody else besides the seniors to send them out on a good note. It's a big responsibility because at some point, they're going to be seniors and will want the same thing, so I was really proud of our team for bringing that energy and effort." – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh
On the differences for Florida in the first and second halves:
"Arkansas is a tough team to play against. The way they play defensively is a little bit different than any team we ever faced in the SEC. I think us just getting adjusted to that in the first half helped us get a little bit better in the second half to be able to play a little bit more calm and just finish those balls at the end." – junior forward Savannah Jordan
On her thoughts on the win:
"It felt good. The first half, we didn't get any goals, but in the locker room we were just like, 'let's get some goals in,' and then we just picked it up in the second half." – junior forward Brooke Sharp
On sending off the seniors with a win:
"I think it's great, especially with the shutout. All three of them are more defensive players -- Lauren (Smith) still plays in the back some, even holding mid, and Christen (Westphal) and Claire (Falknor) are centerbacks for us, so I think it's huge to have a shutout for them today and especially the win as well." – junior forward Savannah Jordan
On the younger players getting playing time and experience:
"It's great. We always talk about how depth on our team is huge, and I think we really used that in this game. Briana (Solis) scoring and Kaylan (Marckese) getting her assist as a goalkeeper was great, and I think everyone that came in at the end just held that standard and finished it out without any goals being scored on us. We won 4-0, so it was a great team effort. The bench was great all day, and the players who came in did an excellent job." – junior forward Savannah Jordan
What happened on her first collegiate goal?
“I was just running as fast as I can. I saw Rachelle (Smith) next to me. Once I looked, the girl went to her and I thought 'open lane –go!” Then I finished it.” – freshman Briana Solis
On her first assist as a Gator goalkeeper:
“It felt amazing. I can't do anything but give her all the credit. I just gave her the ball and she ran, what a 100 yards down the field to make it happen. So it was really nice, but she did all the work.” – freshman goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese
On the emotions of Senior Night:
“It is definitely emotional. It is every kind of emotion you can feel – happiness, sadness, feeling grateful, knowing that it almost over. I haven't registered any of them. I tried to focus on it as if it was another game. Once I go home and it all settles in, that's when the true emotions will come out.” – senior defender Christen Westphal
Records:
Florida: 13-3-1, 7-2-1 SEC – currently tied for first in SEC standings
UA: 5-11-1, 1-8-1 SEC – currently 14th in SEC standings
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 8 on the October 20 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.
Next up:
Florida finishes regular-season action at Georgia on Thursday, Oct. 29. Georgia used a 1-0 win over No. 16 Auburn today to move into a four-way tie for eighth in the SEC standings.
The match will air live on the SEC Network (Gainesville/Ocala Cox cable 68 or 1068), streamed on WatchESPN and can be heard on ESPN Gainesville 850AM/95.3FM or on GatorZone.com.
Arkansas (5-11-1, 1-8-1 SEC) at No. 8 Florida (13-3-1, 7-2-1 SEC)
Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium (921)
Weather: 80 degrees, 58% humidity, partly cloudy, winds 9mph E
| Goals by Period | 1 | 2 | Total | | |
| UA | 0 | 0 | 0 | | |
| Florida | 0 | 4 | 4 | | |
Scoring Summary:
`
Shots: Florida 11; UA 11
Saves: Florida 6 (Kaylan Marckese 6); UA 3 (Jordan Harris 3)
Cautions: Dee Dee Green/ARK – yellow (65:13)
