GAINESVILLE, FLA. – Mark Gator soccer's 290
th home match a win.
With their coaching staff appearing in their final home match, the Gator soccer made sure their final Dizney Stadium appearance was positive with a 3-1 win Thursday over Georgia Southern.
Dizney Stadium Farewell
Tonight was the last time the Florida coaching staff - Head Coach
Becky Burleigh and Associate Head Coaches
Vic Campbell and
Alan Kirkup – were on a Gator home sideline.
Burleigh announced in January she would retire at the end of 2020-21 campaign. She and Campbell have been with Florida for each of its 26-season history and Kirkup joined the staff for the 2006 campaign. Tonight's win give the program a home record of 230-44-16 (0.821).
Past players were among the Dizney Stadium crowd to cheer the Gators and their coaches in their 2020-21 home finale. Also among the crowd were others Burleigh had worked with over the year, including Jeremy Foely and
Steve Spurrier.
The three coaches were honored pre-match and Burleigh spoke to the fans following the win. She was touched by the flowers placed where her parents cheered the Gators for many years before they passed away before the 2017 season.
Thursday's scoring:
Senior
Madison Alexander opened the scoring in the 17
th minute. The play started with a free kick above the middle of the box.
Parker Roberts' kick found
Laney Steed just in front of the Eagles' wall. Steed sent the ball directly to her left for Alexander. Her right-footed shot scored from 12 yards.
The second goal started when
Deanne Rose sent the ball to freshman
Tori Grambo at the top of the Eagles defensive third. Grambo moved toward the middle and her 20-yard right-footed shot scored just inside the far post.
The Eagles cut the lead to a single goal with Debra Ruiz's goal in the 87
th minute.
A late goal off a 25-yard strike by Roberts finished the scoring for Florida's 3-1 win. The final goal started with Rose driving the end line. She sent the ball to the top of the box where
Delaney Tauzel touched it out to Roberts. Her strike hit the underside of the crossbar and banged in at 88:45.
Worth noting:
- Roberts pushes out her team leading totals for goals (5) and points (14) after tonight's match.
- Steed added to her team leading assist total as she now has five for 2020-21.
- Two Gator seniors made their collegiate debuts Thursday.
- Lauren Evans was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia days after Gators concluded 2017 season. She rang bell to signal end of cancer and treatments at UF Health Shands on June 14, 2018. Chemotherapy effects on body sidelined her for 2019 but as recovery progressed, rejoined the Gator team for training in 2020-21.
- Ashley Pietra, who joined the team as a temporary walk-on in the fall of 2017, earned a permanent spot after a unanimous vote from the players and coaching staff.
Records:
Florida: (4-7-2, 1-6-1 SEC)
Georgia Southern (4-11-1, 3-6-1 SBC)
All-Time Series Record:
Florida leads 1-0
Next Up:
Spring season play continues Sunday when Florida faces LSU in Orange Beach, Ala.
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Site:
Orange Beach Sportsplex
Live Stats
Today's Boxscore:
| Georgia Southern (4-11-1) vs Florida (4-7-2) |
|
| Attendance: 368 |
|
| Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium Gainesville, FL |
|
| Weather: 75 F, Partly Cloudy, 8mph E |
|
|
| Goals by Period |
1 |
2 |
|
Total |
|
| Georgia Southern |
0 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
| Florida |
2 |
1 |
|
3 |
|
|
| Scoring Summary: |
|
| No. |
Time |
Team |
Goal Scorer |
Assist |
Description |
| 1. |
16:53 |
UF |
Madison Alexander(2) |
Laney Steed Parker Roberts |
6 yards past the keeper from the right side |
| 2. |
31:44 |
UF |
Tori Grambo(2) |
|
shot from 22 yards out |
| 3. |
86:50 |
GS |
Debra Ruiz(3) |
Marcela Montoya Karin Winka |
15 yards past the keeper |
|
| 4. |
88:45 |
UF |
Parker Roberts(5) |
Delaney Tauzel Deanne Rose |
25 yards |
|
|
| Shots: Georgia Southern 3, Florida 37 |
| Saves: Georgia Southern 16 (Sallie Newton 16) , Florida 1 (Alexa Goldberg 1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cautions:
Nicole Vernis-UF – yellow (5:02)
