DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A goal in each half gave Florida soccer a 2-0 win over Kentucky Thursday evening at the Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium.

The decision to move this match to the Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium was made earlier this week to avoid the expected crowds at the Richard Spencer speech held on the UF campus Thursday afternoon.
 
How the Goals Were Scored:
Both of Florida's goals came from its two players from the state of Michigan.
 
Junior Sarah Troccoli sent Florida into halftime with the lead after scoring in the 45th minute. With the first half winding down, Sarah Troccoli looked up and saw and opportunity. Her right-footed 20-yard shot curled just enough to hit the crossbar and kick in. It was Troccoli's first goal of the season.
 
Freshman Madison Alexander hit her second goal of the season to finish the scoring for the match. She received the ball from Gabby Seiler and scored at the far post from 17 yards in the 52^nd minute.



Worth Noting:

• With two Southeastern Conference matches remaining for each team,  Florida is now third in the league standings with 18 points off its 6-2 SEC record. 
• Troccoli's goal was her first of 2017 and the 10^th as a Gator. She is the 12^th Gator to score a goal in 2017, equaling the largest array of scorers in a season since 2006.
• Alexander's goal today was the second of her collegiate career, with both coming in the span of six matches.
• Kaylan Marckese registered her fifth solo shutout of the season and the 19^th of her Gator career. That equals the fourth highest number of career shutouts in Florida history.
• Florida recorded its eighth shutout of 2017.
• Four of the last 10 meetings between these two teams went to overtime – included the two previous to today. Florida owns a 20-4-3 advantage in the all-time series. 
• This match relocated Tuesday to the Embry-Riddle campus. It is the first neutral site for a SEC regular-season match in Florida's 23-year history.

Records:
Florida: 12-4-0, 6-2 SEC
Kentucky: 7-11, 2-6 SEC
 
 
What the Gators Said:
On today's match:
"It was a little bit of an odd day. A five o'clock start, a neutral site, but again, I think we handled it pretty well.
 
"I think we had some really big game changers that went into the game that upped the urgency. We put a challenge to the team to score a goal in the first 15 minutes in the second half. So it was kind of nice to see that two players that came off the bench could make a big difference." – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
 
On Sarah Troccoli's first goal of 2017:
"Oh, I didn't realize that was her first goal. Well, it came at a good time because it was nice to go into the locker room with a lead instead of 0-0." – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
 
On her goal:
"It was the last minute of the half, and I was running down the sideline when [Julia] Lester had it. I heard her telling me to go so she could play it. Then she played it, and I cut it back and then just chipped it." – junior midfielder Sarah Troccoli
 
On Florida's play Thursday:
"It was a little slow in the beginning, but then we talked about pressing higher up at halftime so we kind of picked it up." – junior midfielder Sarah Troccoli
 
On her goal:
"Gabby [Seiler] just played me the ball. I was on the top of the 18, and then I just turned, took a touch, and then I had little bit of a gap to shoot then I just put it in the far post." – freshman forward Madison Alexander
 
On a lot of players seeing time:
"I think it was a good team effort, and obviously that's favorable for us Sunday as well because we've got a quick turnaround." – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
 
Rankings:
Florida ranks No. 20 on the United Soccer Coaches poll.
 
Next up:
The Gators finish regular-season league road action Sunday at No. 11 Tennessee. Match is at 1 p.m. at the Regal Soccer Stadium.
 
Watch the match on SEC Network + or listen to Kyle Crook's call at GatorVision.com.
 
Florida (12-4-0, 6-2 SEC) vs Kentucky (7-11, 2-6 SEC)
Stadium: Embry-Riddle Soccer Stadium (352)
Weather: 79 degrees, winds NE 16 mph, 80% humidity
 

Goals by Period	1	2		Total
Kentucky	0	0		0
Florida	1	1		2

 
Scoring Summary:

No.	Time	Team	Goal Scorer	Assist	Description
1.	44:34	UF	Sarah Troccoli	Julia Lester	20yd shot, hits crossbar & kicks in
2.	51:57	UF	Madison Alexander	Gabby Seiler	12yd shot

 
Shots: Kentucky 6, Florida 16
Saves: Kentucky 5 (Abigail Zoeller 5), Florida 3 (Kaylan Marckese 3)