Florida faces South Alabama Friday in NCAA First Round action at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium. This is the Gators' 15th consecutive NCAA appearance and 21st overall.
Florida & South Alabama Meet Friday for NCAA Action
Wednesday, November 8, 2017 | Soccer
Friday's NCAA Opening Round play is the first meeting between the Gators and the Jaguars
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The first meeting between Florida and South Alabama is Friday in NCAA Soccer Opening Round action.
Over the last four seasons, just one win separates these two programs as Florida is No. T-5 in the nation with 67 wins and South Alabama is No. T-7 at 66 wins.
Friday's match at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium begins at 6 p.m.
Ticket Information:
Tickets for Friday's match are $7 for adults and $3 for children (12 and under), students and senior citizens.
The first 200 UF student showing at Gator1 card are admitted free.
Ticket sales began Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Gator Ticket Office, located at gate 1 of the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Purchase at the Dizney Stadium ticket windows beginning at 4:30 p.m. For more information:
Here's how to follow the Gators
Can't be at Dizney Stadium for Friday's match? Here's how to follow the action:
NCAA Notables:
See the complete NCAA Championship field
Florida at 2017 SEC Soccer Tournament:
In last week's Southeastern Conference Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala., the Gators were eliminated in the semifinal round with a 2-1 overtime loss to then No. 11 Texas A&M. Florida scored first off a 25-yard low strike by Sarah Troccoli. Aggie freshman Rheagan Smith tied the match in the second half. The game-winner came when a clearance attempt went off a Gator defender to score for the Aggies.
Florida advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinal with a 1-0 win over Auburn. Junior Laís Araujo's first free kick attempt scored from 20 yards in the 31st minute.
Two Gators earned spots on the SEC All-Tournament team – Kaylan Marckese and Parker Roberts.
About the South Alabama Jaguars:
The Jaguars moved to the NCAA Championship by winning a Sun Belt Conference record fifth-consecutive league tournament title Sunday in Foley, Ala., defeating Coastal Carolina 5-0. USA also won the Sun Belt regular-season title with a 9-1 record.
Senior Rio Hardy is the 2017 SBC Player of the Year and Tournament Most Valuable Player. She shares third in 2017 Division I statistics with 16 goals and is fifth with 37 points. Junior Hannah Godfrey is the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Sophomore Justice Stanford leads the conference with seven shutouts and owns a goals-against-average of 0.87.
Florida and South Alabama have played three common opponents in 2017 – Auburn (UF 1-0 loss, 1-0 win-SEC Tournament; USA 3-0 loss), Florida State (UF 2-0 loss, USA 2-1 loss) and Alabama (UF 3-0 win, USA 2-1 loss).
Richard Moodie is in his first season with South Alabama.
Team Records:
Florida: 14-6, 7-3 SEC
USA: 14-4-1, 9-0-1 SBC
Over the last four seasons, just one win separates these two programs as Florida is No. T-5 in the nation with 67 wins and South Alabama is No. T-7 at 66 wins.
Friday's match at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium begins at 6 p.m.
Ticket Information:
Tickets for Friday's match are $7 for adults and $3 for children (12 and under), students and senior citizens.
The first 200 UF student showing at Gator1 card are admitted free.
Ticket sales began Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Gator Ticket Office, located at gate 1 of the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Purchase at the Dizney Stadium ticket windows beginning at 4:30 p.m. For more information:
- visit the UAA Ticket Office site
- contact the UAA Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, ext. 6800 or 1-800-34GATOR, ext. 6800 (state of Florida only)
Here's how to follow the Gators
Can't be at Dizney Stadium for Friday's match? Here's how to follow the action:
- Follow the stream of the Florida-South Alabama match on SEC Network + with Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington calling the action
- Hear Friday's match on FloridaGators.com
NCAA Notables:
- Florida's 21 overall NCAA appearances ties for 11th among Division I programs. Among those teams in the top 15, Florida is the youngest as UF is in its 23nd season.
- This is Florida's 15th straight NCAA appearance, which ranks ninth for active streaks of consecutive NCAA Championship berths. North Carolina leads all as the Tar Heels have appeared in all 36 NCAA Championship fields.
- A league-record nine Southeastern Conference teams are in the 2017 NCAA field – Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. That total leads the nation. The Atlantic Coast Conference followed with eight teams and the Pac-12 sends six to 2017 NCAA play.
- Three SEC teams head into the tournament as top-four regional seeds (No. 1 South Carolina, No. 2 Texas A&M, No. 3 Florida) The ACC leads with four regional seeds. The SEC and Pac-12 are next with three each.
- Florida is 32-17-4 all-time in NCAA play. The 32 wins ranks No. 12 all-time among the 239 teams to appear in NCAA Division Championship action.
See the complete NCAA Championship field
Florida at 2017 SEC Soccer Tournament:
In last week's Southeastern Conference Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala., the Gators were eliminated in the semifinal round with a 2-1 overtime loss to then No. 11 Texas A&M. Florida scored first off a 25-yard low strike by Sarah Troccoli. Aggie freshman Rheagan Smith tied the match in the second half. The game-winner came when a clearance attempt went off a Gator defender to score for the Aggies.
Florida advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinal with a 1-0 win over Auburn. Junior Laís Araujo's first free kick attempt scored from 20 yards in the 31st minute.
Two Gators earned spots on the SEC All-Tournament team – Kaylan Marckese and Parker Roberts.
About the South Alabama Jaguars:
The Jaguars moved to the NCAA Championship by winning a Sun Belt Conference record fifth-consecutive league tournament title Sunday in Foley, Ala., defeating Coastal Carolina 5-0. USA also won the Sun Belt regular-season title with a 9-1 record.
Senior Rio Hardy is the 2017 SBC Player of the Year and Tournament Most Valuable Player. She shares third in 2017 Division I statistics with 16 goals and is fifth with 37 points. Junior Hannah Godfrey is the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Sophomore Justice Stanford leads the conference with seven shutouts and owns a goals-against-average of 0.87.
Florida and South Alabama have played three common opponents in 2017 – Auburn (UF 1-0 loss, 1-0 win-SEC Tournament; USA 3-0 loss), Florida State (UF 2-0 loss, USA 2-1 loss) and Alabama (UF 3-0 win, USA 2-1 loss).
Richard Moodie is in his first season with South Alabama.
Team Records:
Florida: 14-6, 7-3 SEC
USA: 14-4-1, 9-0-1 SBC
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