Florida celebrates its 1998 NCAA Soccer Title
Jason Howey
Florida defeated North Carolina 1-0 to claim the 1998 NCAA title. Florida is one of 11 program to win a NCAA team title in the 39-year history of the NCAA Championships.

Florida Soccer Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Florida Women's Athletics

By Mary Howard
50 Years of Women's Athletics

Gator Soccer hasn’t been around for all 50 seasons of University of Florida Women’s Athletics, but UF soccer plays a significant role in the program’s overall success.

From winning it all in 1998 – in just the program’s fourth season – to leading the Southeastern Conference in team and tournament titles, Gator Soccer is a substantial player in UF’s Women’s Athletics.

Here’s a look at what Gator Soccer has accomplished since first taking the field in 1995. 

NCAA Success

Florida soccer has made 22 NCAA Appearances in program's 26 seasons, including reaching at least Elite Eight or better six times. 

1996 NCAA Quarterfinal
1998 NCAA Champions
2001 NCAA Semfinal
2003 NCAA Quarterfinal
2014 NCAA Quarterfinal
2017 NCAA Quarterfinal

Southeastern Conference Success

League Leader:

  • 14 Southeastern Conference titles 
  • 12 SEC Tournament titles 

SEC Tournament Champions

1996 SEC Soccer Tournament champions
1997 SEC Soccer Tournament champions
1998 SEC Tournament champions
1999 SEC Tournament champions
200 SEC Tournament champions
The Gators claimed their sixth consecutive Southeastern Conference title with a 2-1 win over Auburn in the tournament final.
2006 SEC Regular-Season soccer champios
2007 SEC Regular-Season champions
2008 SEC Regular-Season soccer champions
2009 SEC Regular-Season Soccer champions
2010 SEC Soccer Tournament champions
2012 SEC Soccer Tournament champions
2013 SEC Regular-Season Soccer Champions
2015 SEC Soccer Regular-Season

SEC Players of the Year

Danielle Fotopoulos - 1998
Danielle Fotopoulos - 1996 & 1998
Erin Baxter - 1996
Erin Baxter - 1997
Sarah Yohe -1997
Sarah Yohe - 1999
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach - 2000 & 2001
Stephanie Freeman
Stephanie Freeman - 2003 & 2004
Lauren Hyde - 2009
Lauren Hyde - 2009 (D)
Kathryn Williamson - 2011
Kathryn Williamson - 2010 (D)
Holly King - 2012
Holly King - 2012 (D)
Erika Tymrak
Erika Tymrak - 2012 (O)
Savannah Jordan - 2015
Savannah Jordan - 2013 & 2015 (O)
Christen Westphal
Christen Westphal - 2015 (D)

Scoring Leaders:

  • Six of the top five all-time Southeastern Conference scoring leaders are Gators
  • Of the NCAA top 20 career goals leaders, three are Gators - Danielle Fotopoulos (No. 1 - 118 goals at SMU/UF); Abby Wambach (No. 7 - 96 goals) and Savannah Jordan (No. T17 - 81 goals)
Abby Wambach - 2001
Abby Wambach - 96 goals
Savannah Jordan - Sept. 28, 2014
Savannah Jordan - 81 goals
Andi Sellers - 2001
Andi Sellers - 71 goals
Danielle Fotopoulos - Dec. 6, 1998 vs UNC
Danielle Fotopoulos - 66 goals
Melissa Pini - Sept. 2, 1995 vs Florida State
Melissa Pini - 60 goals
Sarah Yohe - 1997
Sarah Yohe - 60 goals

Success in Classroom

  • 174 athletes earned 381 SEC Academic Honor Roll accolades 
  • Seven with 11 CoSIDA Academic All-America honors

Representing their Country and Gator Nation in International Play

  • Eight Gators represented their nation in every World Cup since 1999, winning gold (1999, 2015), silver (2011) and bronze (2003, 2007)
  • 2020 was fifth consecutive Olympics that at least one Gator has claimed a medal (5 Gators, seven golds, two bronze)
Abby Wambach - 2015 FIFA World Cup 150705
Danielle Fotoupoulos (middle) - 1999 World Cup gold
Danielle Fotopoulos - 1999 World Cup gold
Heather Mitts (left) Abby Wambach - 2004 Olympic gold
Heather Mitts (left - 2004, 2008, 2012 Olympic gold; 2011 World Cup silver) and Abby Wambach (2004 & 2012 Olympic gold)
Melanie Booth - 2012 Canada Soccer bronze
Melanie Booth - 2012 Olympic bronze
Abby Wambach - 150705 World Cup gold
Abby Wambach - 2015 World Cup gold, 2011 World Cup silver, 2007 World Cup bronze
Adriana Leon - 2020 Olympic gold
Adriana Leon - 2020 Olympic gold
Deanne Rose - 2020 Olympic gold
Deanne Rose - 2020 Olympic gold and 2016 Olympic bronze
Gators in World Cup or Olympic Competition
YearNameNationEventMedal
1999Danielle FotopoulosU.S.World CupGold
2003Abby WambachU.S.World CupBronze
2004Heather MittsU.S.OlympicsGold
 Abby WambachU.S.OlympicsGold
2007Abby WambachU.S.World CupBronze
 Melanie BoothCanadaWorld CupDNA from group play
2008Heather MittsU.S.OlympicsGold
2011Heather MittsU.S.World CupSilver
 Abby WambachU.S.World CupSilver
2012Heather MittsU.S.OlympicsGold
 Abby WambachU.S.OlympicsGold
 Melanie BoothCanadaOlympicsBronze
2015Abby WambachU.S.World CupGold
 Adriana LeonCanadaWorld CupQuarterfinal
2016Deanne RoseCanadaOlympicsBronze
2019Adriana LeonCanadaWorld CupQuarterfinal
 Deanne RoseCanadaWorld CupQuarterfinal
 Lauren SilverJamaicaWorld CupQualifying Rnds.
 Havana SolaunJamaicaWorld CupQualifying Rnds.
2021Adriana LeonCanadaOlympicsGold
 Deanne RoseCanadaOlympicsGold

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