GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Three second-half goals – with freshman
Deanne Rose starting and ending the scoring – gave the University of Florida soccer team a 3-0 win over Alabama Sunday at the James G. Pressly Stadium.
How the Goals Were Scored:
After a scoreless opening half, the Gators struck early in the second half. The first Florida corner kick resulted in a Gator goal, as Rose's header at the near post scored the kick from
Briana Solis in the 50
th minute.
Less than a minute and a half later,
Mayra Pelayo scored put UF up 2-0. Pelayo took the ball endline and sent the ball toward goal. It hit a Tide defender and the momentum of the deflection carried it into the goal at 50:50.
A long give-and-go play gave Rose her second goal of the evening. Florida won the ball at midfield and it was sent to Rose just outside the center circle. She touched the ball back to
Laís Araujo, who was just moving across the midway line. Araujo recognized Rose's opportunity and immediately sent a ball into space. Rose broke free to catch up with the ball, sending a right-footed shot in from 12 yards.
Worth Noting
- Rose's first goal was her fourth consecutive goal for Florida in an eight-day span. She scored twice in Florida's 2-1 win at Iowa State on Sept. 12, scored the Gators' goal in a 2-1 loss at Texas A&M on Sept. 21 and then today's opening goal.
- Rose's double goal effort today – her second of the last three matches – puts her atop the Gator goal and points leaders this season. She now has six goals and 13 points.
- Pelayo's goal was her second of the season and of the last four matches.
- Through three matches, Rose shares the league lead for goals in SEC action with Mississippi State sophomore MaKayla Waldner at three goals.
- Florida turned in its fifth shutout of 2017. It was the 16th solo shutout of junior goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese's career.
- Florida now leads the all-time series 20-1-2.
Records:
Florida: 8-2-0, 2-1 SEC
Alabama: 8-3-1, 1-1-1 SEC
What the Gators Said:
On the differences in halves:
"I just felt like in first 25 minutes, we just stood off them too far and let them do what they wanted, and they looked pretty good. Then as soon as we put them under pressure, all of a sudden, you know, they didn't look as good, and I think a big part of that was our pressuring. We're capable of doing that to anyone, and I think we just forgot, and so once we started putting the pressure on, all of a sudden that generated some of our offense." – Florida Head Soccer Coach
Becky Burleigh
How critical was it for the Gators to get two goals early in the second half?
"Super critical [for Gators to score two early second half goals]. We needed to come back stronger. We had to get a little wake-up call, which made our team come together as one. We know that we are the type of team that can [respond] we had to show our coaches that we can do that." – senior defender
Kristen Cardano
On her feelings the last couple games…
"I've been feeling good. I think my teammates have done such a good job of encouraging me, and the coaches. So I think it's finally coming through, the execution. It's nice to be scoring." – freshman forward
Deanne Rose
On the confidence of scoring
"I have a sigh of relief every time I score just because I know it can happen, but it's the execution and finally it's starting to come through." – freshman forward
Deanne Rose
On early second half momentum:
"It's great that we got the momentum, and we were in their half ever since those two goals. It was great." - junior midfielder
Mayra Pelayo
On having a week off of games…
"It is going to be kind of good because lately we haven't been practicing because we will have a practice then have a day off then go straight to games. This week we have a full week of practice. So that's where tactically we can work on everything offensively or defensively." - junior midfielder
Mayra Pelayo
Preseason Conference Votes:
Florida tied for third in the 2016 SEC regular-season standings and won the SEC Tournament title. The Tide finished ninth in the SEC in 2016 at 4-5-2 and posted a final record of 9-8-2.
Rankings:
Florida ranks No. 6 on the
United Soccer Coaches (USC) poll and Alabama is receiving votes.
Next up:
The Gators are at Georgia a week from today. That match airs live on ESPNU at 6 p.m. Listen to Kyle Crooks' call on ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM or GatorVision.com.
Georgia lost 2-1 to Vanderbilt today in home action.
Alabama (8-3-1, 1-1-1 SEC) at Florida (8-2-0, 2-1 SEC)
Stadium: James G. Pressly Stadium (767)
Weather: 83 degrees, winds NE 10 mph, 63% humidity
| Goals by Period |
1 |
2 |
|
Total |
| Alabama |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
| Florida |
0 |
3 |
|
3 |
Scoring Summary:
Shots: Alabama 10, Florida 9
Saves: Alabama 5 (Kat Stratton 5), Florida 5 (
Kaylan Marckese 5)
