GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida soccer opens Southeastern Conference home action Thursday when it faces Auburn. Match time is set for 6 p.m. ET at the James G. Pressly Stadium. Admission is free for all Gator soccer home regular-season matches.
Gator fans – amplify your support as the first 250 fans Thursday get Thundersticks!
Last meeting:
The two teams split in their pair of 2015 meetings. In the regular season meeting at Auburn, Florida found itself trailing the No. 13 Tigers 2-0 early in the second half.
Savannah Jordan scored twice (penalty kick and off 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 3-2 win.
In 2015 SEC Tournament semifinal action, Florida took a 2-0 win. The first goal came from off a
Christen Westphal free kick in the 11th minutes. Almost eight minutes later, Jordan ran down the through ball from
Betsy Middleton to score on a 10-yard shot.
Gators' Last Match:
The Gators opened a three-match home stand Sunday with a 3-2 home win over UCF to finish non-conference regular-season action. A 2-0 lead off goals from
Pamela Begic and
Savannah Jordan became a tense 2-all tie after the Knights scored twice in a 16-minute span of the second half. The first collegiate goal – a 20-yard strike off the assist from
Mayra Pelayo – gave
Samantha Chung the game-winner in the 88
th minute.
Here's how to follow the Gators
Thursday's match will stream on
WatchESPN.
Fans can listen to Daniel Gillman and Annie Bobbitt's call of the action at
FloridaGators.com.
About the Auburn Tigers:
Auburn completed a five-match home stand Sunday with a 1-0 loss versus then No. 14 South Carolina. Sunday's meeting was the Tigers' second meeting versus the nation's No. 14 team. Auburn opened the 2016 season with a 2-0 home loss to then No. 14 Clemson on Aug. 19. Junior Kristen Dodson leads the Tigers in 2016 with nine points off of three goals and three assists.
2016 Records:
Florida: 6-2, 1-1 SEC
AU: 5-4, 1-1 SEC
Preseason Conference Votes:
Florida swept the 2015 SEC titles (regular-season and tournament). Auburn tied for third in the 2015 SEC standings.
Florida – The Gators are picked to win the 2016 Southeastern Conference title.
AU – The Tigers are picked to take third in the 2016 SEC.
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 12 and Auburn is receiving votes on the latest
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.
