GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Florida Gators opened the 2017 season with a 3-2 exhibition win over Southeastern Conference foe Mississippi State on Wednesday night as
Briana Solis scored the winner with 1:19 remaining.
With the game tied at 2-2, the Gators mounted one last attack with 90 seconds left in the game. The ball was fed out to
Melanie Monteagudo on the right edge of the box. Monteagudo made a move to get around her defender. She fed in a pass with her left foot to Solis, who took one touch before turning and firing a shot past the Bulldog keeper.
Monteagudo found the back of the net herself in the first half. After the opening goal by Mississippi State's Kristen Malebranche, Florida raced back down the left flank and into the box. With the keeper trying to play the ball, it left plenty of time and space for Monteagudo. She curled a floating shot over the retreating defenders which found the top right corner of the net.
The Bulldogs answered back to take a 2-1 lead at halftime.
After a scoreless first 20 minutes of the second half, a pass to
Mayra Pelayo unlocked the Bulldog backline. She fired a shot that was parried away by the goalkeeper. One of the Mississippi State defenders attempted to clear the ball out of play but the ball found the net to tie the game 2-2.
Next Up:
Florida will open the regular season on the road when it travels to Boca Raton to take on Florida Atlantic on Aug. 18. The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. and 2017 will be the second consecutive season FAU women's soccer opens home action with a match played at the FAU Stadium (home of the football Owls).
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