LEXINGTON, Ky. – The start of Southeastern Conference play couldn't be contained in just 90 minutes for the University of Florida soccer team. It was the third overtime for the Gators this season and Thursday's final result was a 2-1 double overtime win in front of 1,269 at the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex.
Of the last nine meetings between these two teams, four have gone to overtime, as the Gators are 3-0-1 in that span. It was Florida's fifth overtime match to open league play in the program's 22-year history and first since taking a 2-1 OT win versus Kentucky in 2009.
How the Match Unfolded:
All the scoring in regulation came in the final eight minutes, with each starting off a corner kick. Gators struck first at 83:56 when a corner kick from
Mayra Pelayo found
Gabby Seiler at the top of the box. Seiler's shot deflected off senior All-American
Savannah Jordan's shoulder and scored in the upper left corner. It was Seiler's first goal of her Gator career.
But the Wildcats knotted up the score at 88:26. The ball off a corner kick pinged around the box, then popped free on the left side. Zoe Swift pounced on the loose ball and placed it in from five yards.
The match moved to overtime – the third for UF this season and Kentucky's second. The golden goal included two that played a role in UF's first goal, as Seiler sent the ball to Jordan who was in the middle of the box, back to goal. Jordan's diagonal pass slid between two defenders to find
Meggie Dougherty Howard near the top of the box. Dougherty Howard's right-footed angled shot from 14 yards scored in the far corner at 102:44.
Worth Noting
- Dougherty Howard's goal at 102:44 is the 15th latest goal to win in Florida's history. It was her third goal of the season, which equals her collegiate season high set in 2015. It was the first golden goal of Dougherty Howard's career - including college, club and high school.
- Seiler's goal is her first of her Gator career. Seiler transferred to Florida in 2015 after spending her first two seasons at Georgia. She sat out the 2015 season due to SEC transfer rules.
- This is the eighth time in Florida's 22-year history it has opened league play against Kentucky and is 7-1 in those matches.
- The Gators recorded a season-high 31 shots Thursday. UK goalkeeper Evangeline Soucie recorded a career-high 11 saves.
- Florida is 2-1 in overtime matches this season (1-0 OT loss at No. 3 Stanford and 4-3 OT win at No. 15 UCLA). Florida also went to overtime three times in the opening six matches of the 1998 season (all three wins).
Records:
Florida: 5-1, 1-0 SEC
UK: 2-3-1, 0-1 SEC
Preseason Conference Votes:
Florida swept the 2015 SEC titles (regular-season and tournament). Kentucky tied for ninth in the league.
Florida – The Gators are picked to win the 2016 Southeastern Conference title.
UK – The Wildcats are picked to take seventh in the 2016 Southeastern Conference race.
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 5 on the latest
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.
Next up:
Florida finishes this five-match road stretch on Friday, Sept. 16 at No. 25 Arkansas (5-1). The Razorbacks open SEC action Sunday at Mississippi State. Friday's match time is set for 8 p.m. ET at Razorback Field and the match can be seen on
SEC Network .
Listen to Adam Schick's call of the match on the
FloridaGators.com stream.
Follow the Gators:
No. 5 Florida (5-1-0, 0-0-0 SEC) vs Kentucky (2-3-1, 0-0 SEC)
Stadium: Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex (1,269)
Weather: 86 degrees, WSW winds at 10mph, 56% humidity
| Goals by Period |
1 |
2 |
OT |
OT2 |
Total |
| Florida |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| UK |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Scoring Summary:
Shots: Florida 31, UK 3
Saves: Florida 2 (
Kaylan Marckese 2); UK 11 (Evangeline Soucie 11)
Cautions and Ejections:
47:37 - LaMaya Williams/UK, yellow
