GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The golden goal off the right foot of Florida's
Brooke Sharp sends the University of Florida soccer team to the NCAA Round of 16. The Gators took a 3-2 double overtime win over Wisconsin Friday in front of 1,088 at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
With the win, No. 1 regional seed Florida advances to play Auburn Sunday in NCAA Third Round action. The No. 4 regional seed Tigers were a 4-1 winner over Connecticut in Friday's opening match at the Dizney Stadium. That match will be played at Dizney Stadium Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m.
NCAA Bracket
How the Goals Were Scored:
The first goal for each team came off a second-half penalty kick. The Gators scored first after Wisconsin's Morgan Taylor looked to bring the ball out of the top of the box. UF's
Meggie Dougherty Howard came sliding in to get a touch on the ball and then bounced immediately back up to start moving with the ball toward goal. Taylor fouled Dougherty Howard just inside the box. Dougherty Howard is now three-for-three on penalty kicks this season.
The Badgers' penalty kick was awarded after Florida's
Julia Lester fouled Sydney McGinnis just above the endline. Micaela Powers successfully converted the penalty kick in the 66th minute to tie the score.
Wisconsin went ahead in 77
th minute when Dani Rhodes put in the free ball at the near post off the Allie Winterfield cross.
An own goal off a Dougherty Howard corner kick in the 78
th minute was the final goal of regulation. Her kick to the middle of the box was attempted to be cleared by a Badger, but instead that header scored in the far corner.
When looking at the season results of these two teams, it probably wasn't unexpected that extra minutes were required. It was Florida's seventh overtime contest of the season and Wisconsin came into Friday's match leading the nation with 10 overtime matches.
The golden goal started when sophomore
Mayra Pelayo sent a through ball to Dougherty Howard as she made an angled run to the right side of the box. She caught up and then sent a square ball to Sharp in the middle of the box. Sharp one-touched the ball in from 10 yards in the 107
th minute.
Worth Noting:
- Florida advances to the NCAA Round of 16 for the third consecutive season and for the 12th time in the program's 20 NCAA appearances.
- Dougherty Howard's goal raises her collegiate season high totals for goals (8) and points (27).
- Sharp has scored three goals in 2017 and 19 for her career. Three of those goals are golden, with the first two coming in the final minute of the first overtime (99:01 vs Arkansas 11-6-16; 99:41 vs Oklahoma State 9-4-15).
- Two own goals have been scored for Florida this season, with the first being the game-winner in a 4-3 overtime win at UCLA.
- This was the first meeting between the two programs. Wisconsin's first season was in 1981 and Florida started its program in 1995.
- The three goals were the most allowed by the Badgers this season. Wisconsin lost 3-2 at Indiana on Sept. 25.
- In 2016 overtime action, Florida is now 4-2-1 and Wisconsin is 2-1-8. In NCAA play, the Gators are now 4-2-4 all-time in overtime contests.
Records:
Florida: 17-4-1, 8-3 SEC
UW: 9-5-8, 5-2-4 Big Ten
Tonight's Sound Bites:
On tonight's match:
"It's truly difficult to lose that way. I thought Wisconsin battled really, really hard. They were an opponent we had to really work hard to get past. I also want to just give a special shout out to Rose Lavelle, their senior. She's one the best collegiate players I've ever seen. She does so much for them and that's quite a career that she's had. She was definitely a handful for us to deal with. That's as special of a player that you will see in college soccer. So congratulations to Wisconsin for their season and I know it was a difficult way for them to end. But they certainly gave us everything we can handle." – Florida Head Coach
Becky Burleigh
On tonight's game:
"Whoever says that women's soccer is a boring sport missed a really exciting game today. Huge credit to Florida, they're a good team. As a coach, you hate to end your season and to see your senior class move on. However, the one thing I told them before the game was that I knew that they would throw it out there, make it a fight and be very good and disciplined in what we asked. As a coach, I couldn't ask for anymore from them. I wish Florida all the luck in their run." - Wisconsin Head Coach Paula Wilkins
On her golden goal:
"It was just a great sequence. Savannah [Jordan] played it to Mayra [Pelayo], and then Mayra played it out to Meggie [Dougherty Howard]. When I saw Meggie out wide, I knew it was going to be a good ball so I screamed for it." – senior Gator forward Brook Sharp
On the seniors:
"Meggie [Dougherty Howard] is doing amazing job all over the field. This is such an incredible journey that were on right now and I think a big part of that is because we've said it all along, we have a really special senior class. I think those seniors bring an urgency that no one else can really bring because they know what it feels like. At the same time, the seniors are bringing great leadership and stuff that you guys never even see behind-the-scenes." – Florida Head Coach
Becky Burleigh
On how the team rebounded from trailing:
"It's never a good feeling to go down, but it's something that our team has been through before. I think earlier experiences have prepared us for now. Because of that, I don't think anyone was shook up or nervous, we just stuck to our game plan. I'm really proud of how everyone stayed focused and on task." - senior forward
Savannah Jordan
On her penalty kick:
"It's huge to know that I have the support of all the players, staff and coaches. That's what penalties are about: being confident in yourself and staying calm. So when you know you have 39 people behind, you can't ask for any more support than that." senior midfielder
Meggie Dougherty Howard
Next up:
Florida will face Auburn Sunday in the NCAA Third Round. Match time is 2 p.m. at Dizney Stadium. The video stream of the match can be seen on
ESPN3.
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Friday, Nov. 18 |
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Auburn 4, Connecticut 1 |
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Florida 3, Wisconsin 2 2OT |
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Sunday, Nov. 20 |
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Auburn vs Florida |
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2 p.m. |
When the two teams met earlier this season, Auburn shut out the Gators 3-0 at the James G. Pressly Stadium on Sept. 22. Auburn took second in the final SEC regular season standings with a 9-2 record, while Florida tied for third with its 8-3 league record.
NCAA Third Round Ticket Information:
NCAA Soccer Third Round play will be at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium on Sunday. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children (12 and under), students and senior citizens.
The first 200 UF student showing at Gator1 card are admitted free.
You can purchase tickets at Dizney Stadium Sunday beginning at 12:30 p.m. (gates open at 1 p.m.).
Follow the Gators:
No. 1 regional seed Florida versus Wisconsin
Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium (1,088)
Weather: clear, 64 degrees, 73% humidity, ENE 3 mph
| Goals by Period |
1 |
2 |
OT1 |
OT2 |
Total |
| Wisconsin |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Florida |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
Scoring Summary:
Shots: UW 13, Florida 18
Saves: UW 8 (Caitlyn Clem 8), Florida 3 (
Kaylan Marckese 2, Team 1)
Cautions and Ejections:
Camryn Biegalski/UW – yellow (50:55), Emily Borgmann/UW – yellow (59:43), Sydney McGinnis/UW – yellow (62:34),
Mayra Pelayo/UF – yellow (66:05), Kylie Schwarz/UW – yellow (87:42)
