Seniors Njeri Butts (above) and Lauren McCloskey return to their home state Friday to face No. 17 Georgia. (Photo by Jordan Perez)
Gators at No. 17 Georiga Friday
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida soccer (4-5-1, 0-2-1 SEC) closes its Southeastern Conference season opening stretch versus top-25 teams Friday at No. 17 Georgia (7-2-2, 3-0 SEC)
Friday, Sept. 26 at No. 17 Georgia
Date: Friday, Sept. 26
Time/Site: 6:30 p.m. ET at Turner Soccer Complex
Stream: SEC Network + with Jeff Dantzler and Weldon Kolker calling the action
Stats
Admission: Free
SEC: It Just Means More (Top-25 Teams):
Florida concludes its Southeastern Conference four-match stretch versus United Soccer Coaches top-25 teams this Friday - then No. 9 Arkansas (3-2 loss), at then No. 24 Oklahoma (2-1 loss), then No. 15 South Carolina (0-0 tie) and now at No. 17 Georgia. Coming up next month, Florida travels to face No. 5 Tennessee on Oct. 16. The only current top-25 teams not on UF's SEC schedule are No. 13 Vanderbilt and No. 25 Alabama.
Florida leads all with six current top-25 league opponents on 2025 SEC schedule.
Last Match:
Florida soccer's first point of this young SEC season was earned with a 0-0 tie versus No. 15 South Carolina September 21 at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
South Carolina was the third of a four-match SEC season opening stretch of ranked opponents for the Gators. Florida dropped one-goal decisions to then No. 9 Arkansas (3-2) and No. 24 Oklahoma (2-1). To earn the point Sunday, the Gators went to a defensive-focused formation, a first for the team this season. The collective effort of the Gators was saluted by Coach Samantha Bohon post-match, with several players stepping into different roles Sunday. One player who was outstanding in her usual role was goalkeeper Paloma Peña, who earned her first collegiate solo shutout Sunday. Her collegiate-high six saves came against a program with the league goals leader (Katie Shea Collins) and shared the team goals high total of six.
Peña's performance earned her first SEC Defensive Player of the Week honor on September 22.
About No. 17 Georgia (7-2-2, 3-0 SEC):
Georgia was 8-7-6 in 2024 and tied for seventh in the Southeastern Conference with a 3-3-4 record. The Bulldogs 2024 NCAA run ended with a first-round home 3-2 loss to Colorado. Georgia is picked to finish fourth in the 2025 preseason vote by the league coaches.
Georgia split in its two home meetings versus top 15 teams this season, losing 1-0 to then No. 8 UCLA and defeating then No. 12 and defending NCAA champion North Carolina 2-0. The Bulldogs opened league play with three consecutive wins - 3-0 at Texas A&M, 1-0 versus Kentucky and 4-1 at Mississippi.
Redshirt junior Summer Denigan is UGA's goals (8) and points (17) leader. Hailey Gordon's double goal performance at Mississippi earned her a share of the Sept. 22 SEC Freshman of the Week honor. Their two goals each in league play shares No. 6 in the SEC. Hannah Folliard has started every match and her goals-against-average of 0.51 is among the nation's top 30 and third among freshmen. In league action, Folliard's 0.35 GAA tops the SEC and she is one of two goalkeepers with a pair of shutouts.
Friday, Sept. 26 at No. 17 Georgia
Date: Friday, Sept. 26
Time/Site: 6:30 p.m. ET at Turner Soccer Complex
Stream: SEC Network + with Jeff Dantzler and Weldon Kolker calling the action
Stats
Admission: Free
SEC: It Just Means More (Top-25 Teams):
Florida concludes its Southeastern Conference four-match stretch versus United Soccer Coaches top-25 teams this Friday - then No. 9 Arkansas (3-2 loss), at then No. 24 Oklahoma (2-1 loss), then No. 15 South Carolina (0-0 tie) and now at No. 17 Georgia. Coming up next month, Florida travels to face No. 5 Tennessee on Oct. 16. The only current top-25 teams not on UF's SEC schedule are No. 13 Vanderbilt and No. 25 Alabama.
Florida leads all with six current top-25 league opponents on 2025 SEC schedule.
| # of Top 25 SEC Opponents | Teams |
| 5 | Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas |
| 4 | Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, LSU, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt |
| 3 | Georgia, South Carolina |
Last Match:
Florida soccer's first point of this young SEC season was earned with a 0-0 tie versus No. 15 South Carolina September 21 at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
South Carolina was the third of a four-match SEC season opening stretch of ranked opponents for the Gators. Florida dropped one-goal decisions to then No. 9 Arkansas (3-2) and No. 24 Oklahoma (2-1). To earn the point Sunday, the Gators went to a defensive-focused formation, a first for the team this season. The collective effort of the Gators was saluted by Coach Samantha Bohon post-match, with several players stepping into different roles Sunday. One player who was outstanding in her usual role was goalkeeper Paloma Peña, who earned her first collegiate solo shutout Sunday. Her collegiate-high six saves came against a program with the league goals leader (Katie Shea Collins) and shared the team goals high total of six.
Peña's performance earned her first SEC Defensive Player of the Week honor on September 22.
About No. 17 Georgia (7-2-2, 3-0 SEC):
Georgia was 8-7-6 in 2024 and tied for seventh in the Southeastern Conference with a 3-3-4 record. The Bulldogs 2024 NCAA run ended with a first-round home 3-2 loss to Colorado. Georgia is picked to finish fourth in the 2025 preseason vote by the league coaches.
Georgia split in its two home meetings versus top 15 teams this season, losing 1-0 to then No. 8 UCLA and defeating then No. 12 and defending NCAA champion North Carolina 2-0. The Bulldogs opened league play with three consecutive wins - 3-0 at Texas A&M, 1-0 versus Kentucky and 4-1 at Mississippi.
Redshirt junior Summer Denigan is UGA's goals (8) and points (17) leader. Hailey Gordon's double goal performance at Mississippi earned her a share of the Sept. 22 SEC Freshman of the Week honor. Their two goals each in league play shares No. 6 in the SEC. Hannah Folliard has started every match and her goals-against-average of 0.51 is among the nation's top 30 and third among freshmen. In league action, Folliard's 0.35 GAA tops the SEC and she is one of two goalkeepers with a pair of shutouts.
Lauren McCloskey | Carwash Convos
Monday, September 22
Florida vs. South Carolina Highlights 9-21-25
Monday, September 22
Paloma Peña 250921
Sunday, September 21
Samantha Bohon 9-21-2025
Sunday, September 21
