Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Another Friday night and it's another top-10 opponent for Florida soccer. The Gators are at No. 3 Florida State for the season's first Fresh from Florida Sunshine Showdown. Match time is set for 7 p.m. ET at Seminole Soccer Complex.
 
Friday's match marks the end of Florida's three-match stretch versus United Soccer Coaches top-10 teams. Last weekend at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium, UF and then No. 2 UCLA played to a scoreless tie. On Sunday, Florida lost 3-0 to then No. 7 Southern Cal.
 
Florida-Florida State Series History:
The Florida-Florida State series has gone back and forth in recent years. After three consecutive Seminole wins in 2011, 2012 and 2013, the Gators took the 2014 and 2015 meetings. Florida State shutout the Gators 2-0 in the 2017 meeting at the James G. Pressly Stadium. The 2017 meeting was delayed for about a month due to the approach of Hurricane Irma. 2016 is the only season the two teams haven't met, as Hurricane Hermine forced the cancellation of that season's match.
 
The Gators own a 13-11 advantage in the all-time series.
 
Here's how to follow the Gators:
Listen to Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington's call of Friday's match on ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM.
 
Follow the action of Friday's match on ACC Network Extra on ESPN3|.
 
Last Weekend:
In Friday's action, Florida played No. 2 UCLA to a scoreless tie as UF registered its first shutout of 2018 in its first match versus a top-10 team. Senior goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese turned in a career-high eight saves and the shutout was No. 23 for Marckese (four away from equaling UF career record). On Sunday, No. 7 Southern Cal hit all its goals in the 16-minute span of the second half to shut out Florida 3-0.
 
About the Seminoles:
Florida State moved up to No. 3 this week after playing then No. 7 Southern Cal to a scoreless tie on Aug. 31 and winning 4-1 versus then No. 2 UCLA on Sept. 2. Other 2018 results for FSU include wins versus Vanderbilt (1-0), Troy (5-0), Wisconsin (3-0) and Middle Tennessee (3-0). FSU is one of 12 Division I programs to allow just one goal in 2018 and its average of 2.67 goals per match ties for No. 26 in latest NCAA statistics.
 
Two Seminoles are among the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List – junior Deyna Castellanos and senior Natalia Kuikka.
 
Head Coach Mark Krikorian is in his 14th season with FSU.
 
Preseason Conference Votes:
Florida took third in the 2017 Southeastern Conference regular-season standings. Florida State was seventh in the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference standings.
 
Florida – The SEC coaches picked the Gators to win the 2018 SEC title.
 
FSU– The Seminoles are picked to finish second in the ACC. North Carolina is the ACC's preseason pick to win the league.
 
Rankings:
Florida is receiving votes on the Sept. 4 United Soccer Coaches (USC) poll and Florida State is No. 3.