Photo Gallery by Brad Young
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida soccer shut out Florida Gulf Coast 4-0 in a preseason match held Friday at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
The match was played in three 30-minute periods. The Gators scored a goal in each of the first two periods and posted two in the final 30 minutes.
Florida faces 11 teams that advanced to 2017 NCAA action during the course of the 2018 regular season. Friday's exhibition match brings that number to 12 as the Eagles made their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament last season.
About Friday's Exhibition:
Just before pre-match introductions, all-time international goals leader and Gator Great
Abby Wambach spoke to the team. Those words must have been inspiring – junior
Parker Roberts scored within the first two minutes of action. She headed in the corner kick from
Briana Solis at 1:17.
In the second period, a penalty kick was awarded at 58:29 after a foul on freshman
Cassidy Lindley. She successfully converted the penalty kick to push the lead to 2-0.
Junior
Kit Loferski was involved in both of Florida's goals in the final period. In the 68
th minute, Loferski's cross found the head of sophomore
Madison Alexander. The ball clipped the far post for the score.
Then in the 84
th minute, Loferski scored on her own header off the cross from senior
Sara Wilson.
Rankings:
Florida ranks No. 7 on the
United Soccer Coaches (USC) preseason poll. It is Florida's seventh straight year among the nation's preseason top 10.
Season Opener:
Soccer is the first Florida team competing this season. The Gators open the 2018-19 Florida athletic year with a home weekend of action at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
The season opens Friday, Aug. 17 versus Washington. Match time is 7 p.m. The first 250 fans receive a free replica jersey t-shirt. Stay afterwards to get your poster signed at the post-match autograph session.
Then the Gators face Florida Atlantic Sunday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. It's Faith & Family Night at The Diz as members from all local churches are invited to cheer on the Gators.
Admission is free for all regular-season home matches.
