Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A stretch of seven consecutive matches versus 2017 NCAA Tournament teams begins Friday when No. 5 Florida soccer faces defending Big Ten champion Ohio State.
 
Friday's match begins at 7 p.m. at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium. Admission is free for all Gator regular-season home action.
 
Friday's Promotions:

• Mystery Night at the Diz! Students will be entered to win a BIG mystery prize just for attending
• Fireworks! Stay for the post-match fireworks show!
• Get Gator autographs - The Gators will sign autographs on the concourse level following the fireworks.
• Watch the Player, Meet the Person – UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh and a few players will talk with young fans after the match.

 
Here's how to follow the Gators:
Listen to Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington's call of Friday's match while watching on SEC Network +.
 
Ryan Urquhart and Gator goalkeeper alumna Taylor Burke covers Friday's match on FloridaGators.com.
 
In the Opening Weekend of 2018 Season:
Florida opened the 2018 campaign with a pair of home wins - 2-1 over Washington and 4-2 over Florida Atlantic. Four different Gators provided the scoring over the weekend, with Sammie Betters and Madison Alexander scoring in both contests. In Sunday's match, senior Melanie Monteagudo opened the scoring and freshman Cassidy Lindley hit her first collegiate goal within the first minute of the second half.
 
Lindley is SEC Freshman of Week
She scored a goal and registered three assists in her first collegiate weekend of play.
 
For that performance, Cassidy Lindley picked up the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week award on Monday. She also is the only freshman on TopDrawerSoccer.com's National Team of the Week.
 
About the Buckeyes:
These two teams last met in 2015 in Columbus, Ohio, with the Buckeyes taking a 1-0 overtime win. 
 
Ohio State won its first Big Ten title in 2017, as the Buckeyes posted a 15-5-1 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In the 2018 Big Ten coaches' preseason poll, OSU is picked to finish second.
 
Three Buckeyes appear on the 2018 Big Ten Players to Watch list - seniors Arden Holden, Sarah Roberts and sophomore Izzy Rodriguez. OSU also returns Devon Kerr, who played all but 107 minutes in goal for the 2017 Buckeyes, turning in a 0.63 goals against average.
 
OSU opened the season No. 23 on the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll. Last weekend on the road in the Tar Heel State, OSU dropped 2-0 decisions at No. 3 Duke and No. 6 North Carolina. 
 
Lori Walker-Hock, the 2017 Big Ten Coach of the Year, is in her 22nd season with the Buckeyes. 
 
Preseason Conference Votes:
Florida took third in the 2017 SEC regular-season standings. Ohio State won the 2017 Big Ten title.
 
Florida – The SEC coaches picked the Gators to win the 2018 Southeastern Conference title.
 
OSU – The Buckeyes are picked to finish second in the Big Ten.  Penn State is the preseason pick to win the league.
 
Rankings:
Florida ranks No. 5 on the Aug. 21 United Soccer Coaches poll.