No. 12 Florida Soccer Meets Kentucky Friday at Pressly Stadium
Wednesday, September 30, 2015 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After a three-match road stretch, the University of Florida soccer team returns home to play host to Kentucky for the only match of the weekend for both programs. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at the James G. Pressly Stadium. Admission is free for all Gator soccer regular-season matches.
| Friday's Match Info: | ||
| No. 12 Florida (8-3, 2-2 SEC) versus RV Kentucky (9-2-1, 3-1 SEC) Date & Time: Oct. 2 @ 7 p.m. ET
Match Promotions: Team USA Night - Support the Gators and Team USA all night long! Bring your flags and wear your colors; Abby Wambach Jersey T-shirts - Don't miss out on these Abby Wambach throwback jersey t-shirts, available to the first 750 fans in attendance; Rowdy Reptiles Check-in - Students, don't miss out on points toward great prizes and rewards all year long! | ||
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| @UFGatorSoccer (Becky Burleigh) | |
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Match Promotions
It is Alumni Night and many members of past Gator teams will be in attendance. One past Florida team member who will be celebrated (but not able to attend this weekend) is Gator Great and U.S. National Team member Abby Wambach. This summer, Wambach was part of the U.S. team that won the FIFA Women's World Cup – the first World Cup for the U.S. since 1999. Wambach is the all-time international goals leader (184) and was the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2012 (World Player of the Year).
· Team USA Night - Support the Gators and Team USA all night long! Bring your flags and wear your colors
· Abby Wambach Jersey T-shirts - Don't miss out on these Abby Wambach throwback jersey t-shirts, available to the first 750 fans in attendance
· Rowdy Reptiles Check-in - Students, don't miss out on points toward great prizes and rewards all year long!
A complete list of promotions can be found at GatorZone.com.
When these two teams last met:
When Florida and Kentucky last met in 2014, the Wildcats took a 2-0 win in Lexington. The Wildcats scored a goal in each half to give UF its second shutout loss of 2014.
Florida leads the all-time series 19-3-2.
Here's how to follow the Gators
Can't be at Friday's Kentucky at Florida match? Here's how to follow the action:
Watch the stream of the UF-UK match on SEC Network +, beginning at 7 p.m. Bernie Guenther and Matthew Stubbington's will call the match Friday.
Friday's match can also be heard on ESPN Gainesville 850AM/95.3FM or on GatorZone.com.
Gators' in Last Week's Action:
Florida was on the opposite ends of 3-2 scores in last weekend's SEC road action. Florida experienced every possible scenario Friday at Vanderbilt, playing ahead, tied, behind, tied and finally ahead for good. Freshman Sarah Troccoli scored the first goal of the match in the 13th minute – her fourth goal of the season. The Commodores scored twice in just over a two-minute portion of the opening half to tie and then take a 2-1 lead. Junior Brooke Sharp sent Florida into the half tied with VU after her goal in the 32nd minute. Junior Betsy Middleton provided the only goal of the second half, hitting a 22-yard one-timer in the 56th minute to give Florida the go-ahead goal.
Sunday at then No. 13 Auburn, Florida was trailing 2-0 early in the second half after the Tigers scored twice within a two-minute span. Florida's Savannah Jordan scored on a penalty kick and off an assist from Meggie Dougherty Howard to tie the match. But AU's Casie Ramsier put in a right-footed shot off a corner kick with 25 seconds left in regulation to give the Tigers the win.
Jordan's goals Sunday give her 12 through 11 matches, which makes her the nation's leader (through Sept. 27 play). Sunday's match was her 14th multi-goal match as a Gator. The seven goals by Sharp gives Florida the top scoring combo in the nation at 19 goals.
About the Wildcats:
Kentucky is the sixth opponent Florida has faced this season that advanced to 2014 NCAA play, as UK reached the Round of 16.
The Wildcats opened the season with a 7-1-1 record before falling 3-1 at Missouri Friday for the team's first league loss of 2015. UK bounced back with a 2-1 win over Arkansas on Sunday. The Wildcats dropped out of the top-25 this week but are still receiving votes. Junior Zoe Swift leads UK this season with four goals and four assists for 12 points.
John Lipsitz is in his seventh season as head coach of the Kentucky program.
Preseason Conference Votes:
Florida was second in the 2014 Southeastern Conference final standings with a 9-2 record. Kentucky was third in 2014 SEC action with an 8-3 record.
Florida – The Gators are picked to win the 2015 Southeastern Conference title. Currently, UF is tied for fifth in the SEC standings with a 2-2 league record.
Kentucky – The Wildcats are picked to finish 10th in the SEC in 2015. Through Sept. 27 play, Kentucky is tied for second in league standings with its 3-1 record.
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 12 on the September 29 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll and Kentucky is receiving votes.
