The Gators open 2016 Southeastern Conference Tournament action versus Missouri on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
No. 15 Gators Open SEC Tournament versus Missouri
Monday, October 31, 2016 | Soccer
Florida has advanced to SEC Tournament action each of its 22 seasons.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida opens 2016 Southeastern Conference Soccer Tournament action Wednesday night, facing Missouri in the quarterfinal round. The Gators tied for third in 2016 SEC regular-season action with an 8-3 record and enters the tournament as the No. 4 seed.
Florida has advanced to the SEC Tournament each year of the program's history, winning 11 titles including the 2015 crown. This is the second time in the program's 22 SEC Tournament appearances that Florida faces the same opponent it finished regular-season league action against (1998 – South Carolina, 4-2 win/Oct. 25 and 6-0 win/Nov. 15).
Here's how to follow the Gators
Can't be in Orange Beach for Wednesday's match? Here's how to follow the action:
Regular-Season Meeting Between Florida and MU:
When these two teams met Thursday in Columbia, Mo., for the SEC regular-season finale, Florida took a 1-0 win. The only goal came off the Gators' final corner kick of the opening half. Gabby Seiler's kick went to near post where senior Pamela Begic headed it across the goal. Missouri's clearance attempt went to just above the box where freshman Julia Lester stepped up for her opportunity. Her right-footed half volley scored from 20 yards in the upper slot of the near post.
The 1-0 win was Florida's seventh shutout this season, with six in the last eight matches.
After Thursday's match, Kaylan Marckese picked up her second SEC Defensive Player of the Week honor after the 12th solo shutout of her career. Lester is the SEC Freshman of the Week after her game-winning goal.
Florida leads the all-time series with Missouri 6-1-1. Three of the last five matches between these two teams were decided by a single goal, including the 2016 meeting last Thursday (1-0 UF win).
About the MU Tigers:
Missouri is 11-6-1 this season and enters the SEC Tournament as the No. 5 seed. The Tigers are 6-3-1 in their last 10 matches. Forward Sarah Luebbert, the 2016 SEC Freshman of the Year, leads MU in goals (10) and points (24). Sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Dossey has played every match but one this season and owns a 1.09 goals against average.
Four Tigers appear on 2016 All-SEC teams – midfielders Melanie Donaldson (first team) and midfielder Kaitlyn Clark (second team), Luebbert (second team), and defender Lauren Selaiden. Bryan Blitz, the 2015 SEC Coach of the Year, is in his 21st season as head of the MU program.
SEC Honors Gators:
Five Gators appear on the 2016 All-SEC teams, announced Oct. 30 by the league office. Three appear on the first team – Savannah Jordan, Meggie Dougherty Howard and Gabby Seiler. Redshirt junior Kristen Cardano earned a spot on the second team. Lester is part of the SEC All-Freshman Team.
The three Gators on the All-SEC first team have made multiple appearances on All-SEC teams. Dougherty Howard was a 2015 All-SEC second team selection. Seiler also was part of the All-SEC first team in 2014 when she was with Georgia. Jordan joins Gator Great Abby Wambach as the only two in the program's history to appear on the All-SEC first team for four consecutive seasons.
Team Records:
Florida: 13-4, 8-3 SEC – SEC Tournament No. 4 seed
MU: 11-6-1, 6-4-1 SEC – SEC Tournament No. 5 seed
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 15 on the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll and Missouri is receiving votes.
Florida has advanced to the SEC Tournament each year of the program's history, winning 11 titles including the 2015 crown. This is the second time in the program's 22 SEC Tournament appearances that Florida faces the same opponent it finished regular-season league action against (1998 – South Carolina, 4-2 win/Oct. 25 and 6-0 win/Nov. 15).
Here's how to follow the Gators
Can't be in Orange Beach for Wednesday's match? Here's how to follow the action:
- Watch the match live on SEC Network beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET. Gator Great and past U.S. National Team member Heather Mitts and Jenn Hildreth will call the action and Jill Loyden will be reporting from the sideline.
- Follow the stream of the Florida-MU match on WatchESPN
- Hear Adam Schick and Matthew Stubbington's call of Wednesday's match on FloridaGators.com
Regular-Season Meeting Between Florida and MU:
When these two teams met Thursday in Columbia, Mo., for the SEC regular-season finale, Florida took a 1-0 win. The only goal came off the Gators' final corner kick of the opening half. Gabby Seiler's kick went to near post where senior Pamela Begic headed it across the goal. Missouri's clearance attempt went to just above the box where freshman Julia Lester stepped up for her opportunity. Her right-footed half volley scored from 20 yards in the upper slot of the near post.
The 1-0 win was Florida's seventh shutout this season, with six in the last eight matches.
After Thursday's match, Kaylan Marckese picked up her second SEC Defensive Player of the Week honor after the 12th solo shutout of her career. Lester is the SEC Freshman of the Week after her game-winning goal.
Florida leads the all-time series with Missouri 6-1-1. Three of the last five matches between these two teams were decided by a single goal, including the 2016 meeting last Thursday (1-0 UF win).
About the MU Tigers:
Missouri is 11-6-1 this season and enters the SEC Tournament as the No. 5 seed. The Tigers are 6-3-1 in their last 10 matches. Forward Sarah Luebbert, the 2016 SEC Freshman of the Year, leads MU in goals (10) and points (24). Sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Dossey has played every match but one this season and owns a 1.09 goals against average.
Four Tigers appear on 2016 All-SEC teams – midfielders Melanie Donaldson (first team) and midfielder Kaitlyn Clark (second team), Luebbert (second team), and defender Lauren Selaiden. Bryan Blitz, the 2015 SEC Coach of the Year, is in his 21st season as head of the MU program.
SEC Honors Gators:
Five Gators appear on the 2016 All-SEC teams, announced Oct. 30 by the league office. Three appear on the first team – Savannah Jordan, Meggie Dougherty Howard and Gabby Seiler. Redshirt junior Kristen Cardano earned a spot on the second team. Lester is part of the SEC All-Freshman Team.
The three Gators on the All-SEC first team have made multiple appearances on All-SEC teams. Dougherty Howard was a 2015 All-SEC second team selection. Seiler also was part of the All-SEC first team in 2014 when she was with Georgia. Jordan joins Gator Great Abby Wambach as the only two in the program's history to appear on the All-SEC first team for four consecutive seasons.
Team Records:
Florida: 13-4, 8-3 SEC – SEC Tournament No. 4 seed
MU: 11-6-1, 6-4-1 SEC – SEC Tournament No. 5 seed
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 15 on the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll and Missouri is receiving votes.
Players Mentioned
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