No. 5 Florida Soccer Meets Texas A&M in SEC Tournament Championship Sunday
Saturday, November 7, 2015 | Soccer
ORANGE BEACH, Alabama – Florida faces Texas A&M Sunday in the 2015 Southeastern Conference Soccer Tournament title match. Start time is set for 2 p.m. ET at the Orange Beach SportsPlex.
| Sunday's Match Info: | |
| Southeastern Conference Tournament Title Match No. 5 Florida (16-3-1, 8-2-1 SEC) versus Texas A&M (15-5-1, 6-4-1 SEC) Date & Time: Nov. 8 @ 2 p.m. ET
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| @UFGatorSoccer (Becky Burleigh) |
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These two teams were the first to play in 2015 regular-season SEC action, with Texas A&M taking a 2-1 win on Sept. 10 in Gainesville. Now 60 days later, the two meet in the final match of 2015 league play – the SEC Tournament final.
This is the fourth year Texas A&M has been a part of the league and these two teams have met in the SEC Tournament final in half of those years. The Aggies, the two-time defending SEC Tournament champions, claimed their first SEC Tournament title in 2013 with a 2-1 win over Florida. The Gators entered the 2015 tournament as the top seed after claiming the program's 14th SEC title with an 8-2-1 record.
Here's how to follow the Gators
Can't be in Orange Beach for Sunday's match? Here's how to follow the action:
l Watch the match live on ESPNU beginning at 2 p.m. ET. Gator Great and past U.S. National Team member Heather Mitts and Glenn Davis will call the action
l Follow the stream of the Florida-TAMU match on WatchESPN
l Hear Adam Schick and Matthew Stubbington's call of Sunday's match on GatorZone.com.
Regular-Season Meeting Between Florida and TAMU:
Both teams held top-10 rankings – No. 6 Texas A&M and No. 10 Florida - when they met for the 2015 SEC opener. The Aggies scored a goal around the seven minute mark of each half to open a 2-0 lead. Jordan put in the long pass from freshman Mayra Pelayo at the far post in the 77th minute, but the Gators couldn't find the equalizer. It was the first UF loss to the Aggies in the four regular-season meetings since TAMU joined the league in 2012.
Texas A&M leads the all-time series with Florida 5-6. Nine of the 11 all-time matches between these two teams were decided by a single goal, including each of the last three meetings.
Gators in Friday's SEC Semifinal Action:
Florida reached the program's 16th SEC Tournament final with a 2-0 win over No. 19 Auburn. The first goal came from a Gator better known for her defensive presence. After junior Meggie Dougherty Howard was fouled just above the box, senior Christen Westphal stepped up to take the free kick. The ball she sent along the ground scored at the far post in the 11th minute. It was her second goal of the season and third of her career. Almost eight minutes later, Westphal sent a ball forward to Betsy Middleton located just inside the Gator half. The through ball from Middleton was ran down by fellow junior Savannah Jordan She beat the goalkeeper with a 10-yard, left-footed shot. The shutout was the fifth for UF in 2015 and third of the last four matches.
Jordan's goal pushed her career total to 62 – which stands fourth on Florida's and SEC career charts. Jordan is the first Gator to move into the program's top four for career goals in 14 seasons as Florida's two leaders – Abby Wambach (96) and Andi Sellers (71) - both finished their collegiate careers in 2001.
Two Gators are among the SEC offensive leaders. Jordan leads in goals (21) and points (47) while Westphal tops the assist list (12). Sharp also checks in tied for seventh for goals (10) and eighth in points (24). Jordan is No. 2 nationally for goals and points. Westphal is among nation's top 10 with her 12 assists.
About the TAMU Aggies:
Texas A&M finished sixth in 2015 SEC play with its 6-4-1 league record. The Aggies have shutout both 2015 SEC Tournament opponents – 2-0 versus No. 17 Mississippi and 1-0 versus LSU. TAMU has met six top-25 opponents this season and owns a 2-4 record in those matches (No. 5 Florida State 3-1 loss; No. 10 Florida 2-1 win, No. 17 South Carolina 2-1 loss, No. 8 Auburn 2-0 loss, No. 13 Mississippi 4-2 loss and No. 17 Mississippi 2-0 win).
Sophomore Haley Pounds, a 2015 All-SEC second team selection, leads the Aggies with 11 goals and 26 points. The Aggies lead the SEC with 10 shutouts in 2015.
G Guerrieri is in his 24th season as head of the Aggie program.
SEC Honors Gators:
Five Gators appear on 2015 All-Southeastern Conference teams, including three on the first team. Jordan is the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and Christen Westphal is the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Joining them on the All-SEC first team is center back Claire Falknor. Midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard earned All-SEC second team honors. Midfielder Mayra Pelayo appears on the SEC All-Freshman team.
Team Records:
Florida: 16-3-1, 8-2-1 SEC – SEC Tournament No. 1 seed
TAMU: 15-5-1, 6-4-1 SEC – SEC Tournament No. 6 seed
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 5 on the November 3 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll and Texas A&M is receiving votes.
