Florida Gators

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of Florida soccer team lost 2-1 to No. 6 and defending NCAA champion Florida State Friday evening in front of 3,154 at the Seminole Soccer Complex.
 
Friday's scoring:
Florida struck first in the 53^rd minute when Tess Sapone gained possession of a Seminole clearance attempt. She chested the ball down and then her right-footed shot scored from 14 yards for her first goal of her senior season.
 
Four minutes later, FSU tied the match. Florida goalkeeper Susi Espinoza was looking for an offsides call that never came and FSU's Katie McFarland scored on an empty net in the 57th minute.
 
The go-ahead goal came in the 71st minute when FSU's Yujie Zhao used her right foot to volley in the cross from Jaelin Howell.
 
In the 79^th minute, the center official asked for a video review after FSU goalkeeper Caroline Jeffers collided with Gator freshman Laney Steed. After the review, Jeffers left the match with a red card, forcing the Seminoles to play the final 10 minutes with 10 players. Florida was awarded a penalty kick on the play. FSU's replacement goalkeeper Brooke Bollinger made the save on Parker Robert's penalty kick attempt.
 
Worth Noting

• Tonight's goal was the third for Sapone. She's scored a goal in the 2017, 2018 and now 2019 seasons.
• For the second consecutive season, a team in the UF-FSU match had to play a man down after a red card. In the 2018 1-0 Seminole win, Florida played the final 23 minutes with 10 players after then senior Laís Araujo received her second yellow card.  Tonight, the Seminoles played the final 10 minutes a man down after their starting goalkeeper received a red card.
• This match ends Florida's longest season-opening road stretch in the program's 25-year history. Included in this road journey were four consecutive matches versus teams ranked in the United Soccer Coaches preseason top 25 – No. 18 South Florida (W, 2-0), No. 5 Southern California (L, 3-1), No. 4 UCLA (L, 2-0) and No. 1 Florida State (L, 2-1). Florida is the nation's only team to face four ranked teams on the road in the opening five matches.

Records:
Florida: 2-3-0, 0-0-0 SEC
No. 6 Florida State: 3-2-0, 0-0-0 ACC
 
It's a Draw:
Tonight's crowd of 3,154 stands No. 4 on Florida State soccer's top attendance lists.
 
Four of the top five crowds in Seminole Soccer history are against the Gators.
Sept. 8, 2006        4,582      FSU 1, UF 0
Sept. 5, 2014        3,569      UF 2, FSU 1
Sept. 7, 2018        3,379      FSU 1, UF 0
Sept. 6, 2018        3,154      FSU 2, UF 1
Sept. 13, 2012      2,300      FSU 1, Duke 0
Aug. 31, 2012       2,243      FSU 1, UF 0
 
What the Gators Said:
On tonight's match:
"These games never fail to disappoint. Every Florida-Florida State game is going to be one like this. Great match for the fans, great environment, the band, the sell-out – everything about it was first class.
 
"FSU is a very good team. In the first half, they pinned us in and in the second half, we solved it a bit. It is a heart-breaking loss. It is a game we expected to win so the result is disappointing. We fought to the very end. We showed a lot of resilience – we didn't put our head down when we gave up a goal. We kept fighting. It [the win] was right there. We just need to find a way to grasp it." – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
 
"We put up a good fight and personally it was a tough loss. We learn from these mistakes and move on." – senior midfielder Tess Sapone
 
On her goal:
"Feels great to be surrounded by your teammates in the run of play. The overall feeling of going ahead is something you don't feel often so it was great to have the opportunity to get that experience." – senior midfielder Tess Sapone
 
Sunday's home opener versus UCF:
"It is going to come hard and fast. I don't believe they play tonight so that will be a bit of an advantage for them. But we are a grinding team and that's just going to be part of our identity." – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
 
"Come out and rep. The younger players haven't had a home game yet so this is an opportunity for them to see what a home game atmosphere is like and what the Gator Nation brings." - senior midfielder Tess Sapone
 
Next Up:
Florida opens home action Sunday versus UCF (0-1-2, 0-0-0 AAC). Sunday's match begins at 6 p.m. at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium and admission is free.
 
Streaming Video: SEC Network + with action called by Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington
TV: none
Radio: ESPN 98.1 FM 850 AM with action called by Skylar Lebron
Live Stats
Promotions: Commemorative Patch Giveaway- The first 250 fans in attendance receive a free 25^th anniversary patch. Posters, magnets and schedule cards will be available for all fans in attendance while supplies last.
 
Florida (2-3-0, SEC 0-0-0) at No. 6 Florida State (3-2-0, 0-0-0 ACC)
Stadium: Seminole Soccer Complex (3,154)
Weather: 92 degrees, winds NW at 7 mph, 35% humidity
 

Goals by Period	1	2	Total
Florida	0	1	1
Florida State	0	2	2

 
Scoring Summary:

No.	Time	Team	Goal Scorer	Assist
1.	52:04	UF	Tess Sapone
2.	56:37	FSU	Kristen McFarland
3.	70:54	FSU	Yujie Zhao	Jaelin Howell

 
Shots: Florida 5, Florida State 13
Saves: Florida 3 (Susi Espinoza 3), Florida State 2 (Caroline Jeffers 1, Brooke Bollinger 1)
 
Cautions:
Kristen McFarland/FSU – yellow (50:54); Tess Sapone/UF – yellow (75:12), Caroline Jeffers/FSU– red (79:32)