Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida soccer is the first of two Gator teams competing this weekend in Starkville, Miss. First, Florida futbol faces Mississippi State 8 p.m. Friday at the MSU Soccer Field. Then 22 hours later, Florida football plays the Bulldogs at the Davis Wade Stadium.
 
Here's how to follow the Gators:
Video: SEC Network + 
Listen: Hear Kyle Crooks call of Friday's match on ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM
Stats: FloridaGators.com
 
Gators in Last Weekend's Action:
Florida snapped a seven-match winless stretch with a 6-0 win Sept. 20 at Kentucky. Four different Gators contributed to UF's largest goal output since 2016, including three goals by senior Laís Araujo. She scored the first three goals in an 18-minute span – marking the Gators' quickest hat trick in 17 seasons. Senior Alyssa Howell finished the first-half scoring chesting the cross from Cassidy Lindley with less than a minute remaining. Second half scoring began in the 65^th minute when sophomore Madison Alexander put in the cross from Melanie Monteagduo. Senior Mayra Pelayo recorded her 10^th collegiate goal when her sliding foot put in the deep cross from Sammie Betters in the 81^st minute.
 
The Gators finished the weekend with a come-from-behind 4-1 win over Louisiana State Sunday at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium. Howell tied the score in the 43^rd minute by hitting her second collegiate goal in her second consecutive match. Florida scored three unanswered second-half goals. Araujo and Alexander scored goals for their third and second matches, respectively. Scoring closed in the 84^th minute when Courtney Douglas headed in her first collegiate goal on her first collegiate shot.
 
Shout-Out to Laís:
After her performance at UK and versus LSU, Araujo picked up her first SEC Offensive Player of the Week honor. Her five goals leads the SEC in league play.
 
Last Meeting Between UF-MSU:
Florida and MSU last met Oct. 23, 2016 for Florida's Senior Day. The only goal of the match started with then senior Meggie Dougherty Howard's corner kick. The ball was headed away from the far post, but Mayra Pelayo's left-footed volley scored in the 81^st minute. To preserve the shutout, Kaylan Marckese made a one-handed save on a charging Bulldog just above the six-yard box in the final minute.
 
Mississippi State Quick Hits:

• Mississippi State earned its first national rankings this week – No. 19 by TopDrawerSoccer and No. 25 by Soccer America - after its impressive play last weekend versus two top-20 teams. The Bulldogs upset then No. 13 South Carolina 2-1 in overtime Sept. 20 in Starkville. On Sunday at then No. 19 Tennessee, the match was scoreless until the 87^th minute when UT scored the only goal.
• Zakirah McGillivary, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, leads MSU in points (13) and shares the goals leads (6) with junior MaKayla Waldner.
• Redshirt senior Rhylee DeCrane has played all but eight minutes in goal for the Bulldogs and owns a goals-against-average of 0.60.
• Tom Anagnost is in his second season as MSU's head coach. 

 
2018 Records:
Florida: 4-6-1, 2-1 SEC
Mississippi State: 8-2, 1-2 SEC
 
Series Record:
Florida leads 15-2-1.