ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Florida opens defense of its Southeastern Conference Soccer Tournament title Tuesday in the quarterfinal round against Auburn. Match time is 3:30 p.m. ET at the Orange Beach SportsPlex.
The Gators are the tournament's No. 3 seed after posting a 7-3 league record.
Florida advanced to the SEC Tournament each year of the program's history, winning a league-high 12 titles including the 2015 and 2016 crowns. This is the second time in the program's 23 SEC Tournament appearances Florida opens play versus an opponent it lost to in regular-season play (AU 1-0 win on Oct. 15). Florida faced South Carolina in the 2002 SEC Tournament opening round, a team that took a 1-0 overtime win to open 2002 regular-season league action (UF won 2-1 in SEC Tournament meeting).
Here's how to follow the Gators:
All nine matches of the 2017 SEC Tournament air live on the SEC Network. Mike Watts and 2012 U.S. Olympic gold medalist Jillian Loyden call the action for the Florida-Auburn match.
On the go? Watch
SEC Network + to see Tuesday's action.
Listen to Kyle Crooks call of the match on
ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM or via
GatorVision.com.
Florida vs Auburn Regular-Season Meeting:
When these two teams met in regular-season play, Auburn was good on its only shot on goal, claiming a 1-0 home win on Oct. 15.
After a scoreless opening half that saw several opportunities for the Gators, the Tigers took the lead in the 53rd minute. Alyssa Malonson's through ball found Kristen Dodson making a slanted run in the box. Dodson's right-footed shot to the near post scored from six yards.
For the match, Florida led 14-5 in shots, including seven on frame. Auburn has taken four of its last five meetings with Florida, including three consecutive.
About the Auburn Tigers:
Since its 1-0 win over Florida on Oct. 15, Auburn tied at Mississippi (2-2 2OT) and versus LSU (0-0 2OT) and closed regular-season play with a 2-1 loss at Vanderbilt.
Kristen Dodson, a 2017 All-SEC first-team selection, leads the Tigers with 19 points off eight goals and three assists. Sophomore Bri Folds leads AU with six assists. Redshirt junior Sarah Le Beau has played every minute in goal for AU in 2017 and owns a 1.15 goals against average along with seven shutouts.
Karen Hoppa is in her 19
th season as head coach of the Tigers.
All-SEC Gators:
Five Gators appear on the 2017 All-SEC teams, announced Oct. 29 by the league office. Three appear on the first team –
Parker Roberts, Deanne Rose and
Gabby Seiler. Two Gator defenders appear on the second team –
Kristen Cardano and
Rachelle Smith. Seiler is a three-time All-SEC first team selection (2014 at Georgia, 2016 with UF) and Cardano was on the 2016 All-SEC second team. Cardano missed the final four matches of the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered Oct. 12 versus Florida State.
Rose is the fourth SEC Freshman of the Year for the Gators and first since
Savannah Jordan in 2013. The only freshman on the All-SEC first team, she is also part of the SEC All-Freshman Team.
Records:
Florida: 13-5-0, 7-3 SEC
Auburn: 7-5-5, 4-2-4 SEC
Rankings:
Florida ranks No. 17 on the
United Soccer Coaches poll and Auburn is receiving votes.
