Gator Soccer Finishes Seattle Trip with 1-0 Win versus Portland

Sunday, September 3

Seattle, WA

9 PM

Florida Gators

Portland

A goal from Gabby Seiler in the 24th minute gave Florida a 1-0 win over Portland.

Gator Soccer Finishes Seattle Trip with 1-0 Win versus Portland

Sunday, September 3, 2017 | Soccer

Box Score Postmatch Box (PDF)

Gabby Seiler's game-winner in the 24th minute was her fifth goal in six matches.

By: Mary Howard

SEATTLE, Wash. – No. 2 Florida soccer team took a 1-0 win over Portland to finish play at the Nike/Husky Invitational Sunday evening at the Husky Soccer Stadium

How the Goal Was Scored:
Florida took a 1-0 lead into halftime off a 24^th minute goal from Gabby Seiler. The play started when Lais Araujo sent the ball to Deanne Rose, standing back to goal above the box. Araujo continued her run, receiving the square ball back from Rose. The right-footed cross from Araujo found Seiler at the top of the six-yard box. Seiler one-touched the ball into the far corner for her fifth goal in the team's six matches.

One of the best opportunities for the Pilots came in the 62^nd minute, when Ellie Walker tried to put in the cross from six yards, but Susi Espinoza got quickly into position to make the stop.

For the match, the Gators outshot the Pilots 19-9. Florida controlled much of the play for the match, withstanding a late Pilot push to preserve Florida's third shutout of the season.

Worth Noting

Florida is now 1-1-1 all-time versus Portland. The teams first met in the 2006 Gator home opener (1-1 2OT).
Portland is the second of three non-conference opponents to have won a NCAA Championship. Portland won NCAA titles in 2002 and '05. Other past NCAA Championship title teams on Florida's 2017 schedule are Stanford/2011 (Aug. 25, 3-2 UF win) and Florida State (Sept. 8). Florida won the 1998 NCAA title.
Seiler leads the Gators with five goals in 2017. She now owns six goals as a Gator and 16 for her collegiate career (scored 10 while playing with Georgia in 2013 and 2014).
Espinoza earns her third shutout of the season.
Both Araujo and Rose earned their first collegiate assists on Seiler's goal.

Records:
Florida: 5-1-0, 0-0 SEC
Portland: 2-4-0, 0-0 WCC

What the Gators Said:
On today's match.
"There were way more chances generated today and that's definitely a positive. I thought that was our biggest improvement and some of the changes we made from Friday really worked for us.

"We are looking forward to playing in front of our home fans and sleeping in our own beds. This has been a long trip, but I think a really productive one."– Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh

What happened on your goal?
I saw Lais [Araujo] was about to play it so I made a quick run in the box. She played a perfect ball and I finished it first time." – senior Gabby Seiler

Preseason Conference Votes:
Florida tied for third in the 2016 SEC regular-season standings and won the SEC Tournament title. Portland took sixth the 2016 West Coast Conference with a 3-5-1 record.

Florida – The SEC coaches picked the Gators to win the 2017 Southeastern Conference title.
Portland – The Pilots are tabbed for fifth in the WCC.

Rankings:
Florida ranks No. 2 on the United Soccer Coaches (USC) poll.

Next up:
The Gators come home to play host to the second UF home match listed among NCAA.com's Aug. 9 10 Must-See Games to Start the Season article. It is the Fresh from Florida Sunshine Showdown as No. 15 Florida State comes to the James G. Pressly Stadium. That match is Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. and admission is free. The Seminoles are 4-1 and won 4-0 over Kentucky in Sunday's action Tallahassee.

The first 250 fans at the UF-FSU match receive a free performance t-shirt!

Friday's match is available on SEC Network + with Matthew Stubbington and Daniel Gillman calling the action.

Listen to Kyle Crooks and Taylor Burke call of Friday's match on ESPN 98.1FM / 850AM or GatorVision.com.

Portland (2-4-0, 0-0 WCC) vs Florida (5-1-0, SEC 0-0-0)
Stadium: Husky Soccer Stadium (354)
Weather: 82 degrees, winds NNW 8 mph, 47% humidity