GAINESVILLE, Fla.  – The University of Florida soccer team took a 1-0 win over Mississippi State on a perfect Sunday afternoon at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
 
How the Gators' Scored Their Goal:
After many near-chances, the strike off a corner kick in the 81^st minute was a chance that scored.
 
The play began when Meggie Dougherty Howard's corner kick traveled to the far post, where a Mississippi State player headed it wide of the six-yard box. Mayra Pelayo's deftly struck left-footed volley scored at the upper slot.
 
Worth Noting:

• Pelayo's goal is her fourth of the season and the fifth of her career.
• The assist was Dougherty Howard's seventh of the season, which is just one away from her career season high set in 2015. She leads UF in assists in 2016.
• The Gators turned in 22 shots – with 11 on goal – Sunday. It was the seventh time this season Florida recorded 10 or more shots on goal in a match.
• Florida now has six shutouts this season, with five in the last seven matches. It was the 11^th solo shutout for Gator sophomore Kaylan Marckese. In Sunday's win, Marckese recorded four saves, including a one-handed stop on a charging Makayla Waldner just above the six-yard box in the final minute of regulation.
• Soccer is the last sport between the two programs that will be contested during Scott Stricklin's tenure as the MSU Athletics Director. He becomes the 14th athletic director in UF history on November 1.

Senior Day Win:
Sunday was also Gator Senior Day and the careers of Florida's eight-member senior class - Pamela Begic, Meggie Dougherty Howard, Savannah Jordan, Betsy Middleton, Erika Nelson, Brooke Sharp, Liz Slattery and Valerie Tysinger – were celebrated in a pre-match ceremony.
 
Sunday's result raises the four-year record of this class to 66-17-4 (0.782) and that win total is tied for No. 4 among the nation's senior classes.
 

 
Team Records:
Florida: 12-4, 7-3 SEC
MSU: 6-11, 1-9 SEC
 
Hear from the Gators:
On today's match:
"I thought our performance was quite good. It's our sport that sometimes you can create loads of chances and then not finish. I was proud of our team for continue to fight, get that goal and keep the shutout. We created so many really great chances, and credit to Mississippi for keeping us out of the net except that one." - Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
 
On her game winning goal:
"I knew it was going to go far post, and I just whipped it in. It's great to get a goal like that on Senior Day. It was scoreless and just getting that advantage up in the second half was great." sophomore midfielder Mayra Pelayo
 
On finishing up the regular season:
"I think we want to finish this out strong. We've got a match against Missouri on Thursday, who is really tough to beat at home. They have a really tough attack, so that will be a good test for our defense. I think we've stepped up big this last half of the season, and I want us to keep doing that." - Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
 
On Senior Day:
"I think everyone wants to play a little harder for the seniors. They know the loyalty we have for this group. This has been a remarkable senior class, and they still have so much more to give. We wanted to honor them today." - Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
 
 On Sunday's match:
"The team worked so hard today and the past couple games. I was just trying to do my part. We've been focusing a lot on playing full 90-minute game, so we just keep reminding each other to keep passes crisp, keep the ball moving and it will come." - sophomore goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese
 
On the seniors:
"It feel amazing to get a win for the seniors. All eight of them mean so much to us. So getting this win was to show them what they mean to us. These eight girls all bring something spectacular and unique to the team, and we're going to miss them so much. So we're just going to cherish this time we have left with them." - sophomore goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese
 
On getting a win on Senior Day:
"It's great. I think it was a whole team effort. Mississippi State came out hard, they were ready to play. So I think we did a good job fighting to the end. Mayra [Pelayo] had great goal off a corner, but everyone put a lot of energy and effort into today. It means a lot to us as seniors.
 
"Our team made it really special for us. It was pretty emotional before the game. These four years flew by. It's amazing to feel that and to see that because looking back at my freshman season, I would never have guessed it would go by this quickly. I've had an amazing four years, and hoping to end this season great." – senior forward Savannah Jordan
 
On the team:
"I think we've grown a lot since the beginning of the year. I think we've grown from each win, loss, or whatever struggles we've had as a team. I'm really proud of where we are. I think it's only good things going into next weekend and then Orange Beach. I'm really excited to see what we do in the postseason." - senior forward Savannah Jordan
 
Current SEC standings: Florida is tied for third with a 7-3 record and Mississippi State is 14^th with a 1-9 record.
 
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 20 on the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.
 
Next up:
The final match of the 77-match SEC regular-season includes the Gators. Florida is at Missouri Thursday, Oct. 27. That match will be televised on the SEC Network beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
 
The two teams did not meet in the 2015 season. In the last meeting, Florida defeated Missouri 3-1 on Sept. 28, 2014 at Dizney Stadium. Missouri was a 4-3 winner at Georgia Sunday afternoon. 
 
The match streams live on SEC Network + and can be heard on ESPN Gainesville 95.3 FM or on FloridaGators.com.
 
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Mississippi State at No. 20 Florida
Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium (876)
Weather: partly cloudy, 73 degrees, 33% humidity, NE 8 mph
 

Goals by Period	1	2	Total
Mississippi State	0	0	0
Florida	0	1	1

 
Scoring Summary:

No.	Time	Team	Goal Scorer	Assist	Description
1.	80:50	UF	Mayra Pelayo	Meggie Dougherty Howard	8yd volley

 
Shots: MSU 10, Florida 22
Saves: MSU 10 (Tanya de Souza 9, TEAM 1), Florida 4 (Kaylan Marckese 4)
 
Cautions and Ejections:
Jamila Coner/MSU – yellow (58:39)