Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida soccer returns to Southeastern Conference action Sunday afternoon at Auburn. Match time is 3 p.m. ET at the Auburn Soccer Complex and admission is free.
 

• Auburn is the fourth Gator opponent that advanced to 2016 NCAA Championship action. The Tigers are the first of two 2017 UF regular-season opponents to reach the 2016 NCAA Quarterfinal Round (South Carolina is the other).

 

• Auburn won its first ever match in Gainesville when the two teams met in 2016 regular-season action on Sept. 22, 2016 (3-0 win). AU won again 3-1 when the two teams met in Gainesville for NCAA Third Round action. Those are the only consecutive UF losses in the all-time 25-match series.

 

• Each SEC team plays one league match this weekend. With four matches left in the regular season, Florida shares second with Texas A&M in the SEC standings with 15 points off of a 5-1 league record. Auburn is sixth with 11 points from its 3-1-2 SEC record.

 
Here's how to follow the Gators
Watch the action on SEC Network + or listen to Kyle Crooks call of the match on GatorVision.com.
 
Gators in Thursday's Action:
Florida lost 2-0 to No. 16 Florida State Thursday at the James G. Pressly Stadium. The Seminoles scored early when Deyna Castellanos hit a 16-yard free kick at 1:06. It was the earliest goal conceded by the Gators in 2017. In the 24th minute, Gloria Villalobos' slanted pass found Dallas Dorosy making a run in the box. Dorosy hit from 15 yards to finish the scoring for the match.
 
For the match, Florida led 10-8 in shots, but the Seminoles edged the Gators 5-4 in shots on goal. 
 
About the Auburn Tigers:
Florida and Auburn have played three common opponents – Alabama (UF & AU wins), Georgia (UF & AU wins) and Texas A&M (UF loss, AU win). Three of Auburn's losses came on the road against top-15 teams – then No. 13 Clemson (2-1 2OT), then No. 9 North Carolina (5-0) and then No. 13 Duke (2-0).
 
Senior Kristen Dodson is leading the Tigers for the second consecutive season in goals (7) and points (17). Three of her 13 goals in 2016 came against the Gators (twice in regular season meeting and once in NCAA Third Round). Redshirt junior Sarah Le Beau has played every minute in goal for the Tigers in 2017 and owns a goals-against-average of 1.23.
 
Karen Hoppa is in her 19^th season leading the Tigers.
 
Records:
Florida: 11-3-0, 5-1 SEC
Auburn: 6-4-3, 3-1-2 SEC
 
Preseason Conference Votes:
Florida tied for third in the 2016 SEC regular-season standings and won the SEC Tournament title. The Tigers took second in 2016 SEC play at 9-2 and posted a final record of 16-8-1.
 

• Florida – The SEC coaches picked the Gators to win the 2017 Southeastern Conference title.
• Auburn– Auburn was voted to place sixth in the preseason SEC coaches poll.

 
Rankings:
Florida ranks No. 10 on the United Soccer Coaches poll.