Kai Tsakiris shares September's final Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week honor. (Photo: Tyler Black)
SEC Freshman Player of the Week Honors for Kai Tsakiris
Monday, September 29, 2025 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After scoring Florida's opening goal in Friday's 2-2 tie at No. 17 Georgia, Florida midfielder Kai Tsakiris (Newport Beach, Calif.) shares the Southeastern Conference Freshman Soccer Player of the Week with Kentucky's Gabi Poretto.
Tsakiris is the third Gator to earn a league mention this month as Addy Hess picked up the first SEC Freshman of the Week honor of September and Paloma Peña was the Sept. 22 SEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Other weekly SEC winners for Sept. 29 include:
Offensive: Amalia Villarreal| Texas
Defensive: Kennedy Husbands | Mississippi State
Quick Look at the Performance of Kai Tsakiris:
Florida faces a league-high five SEC teams that currently appear in the United Soccer Coaches top-25. The Georgia match was UF's fourth consecutive versus a top-25 team and second straight tie (Sept. 21 0-0 tie versus then No. 15 South Carolina).
Next Up:
The Gators (4-5-2, 0-2-2 SEC) starts October action Thursday with a home match versus Kentucky. The Wildcats opened league play with three home wins - then No. 20 Oklahoma (2-1), Missouri (1-0) and Alabama (2-1). The only SEC loss came at then No. 21 Georgia (1-0) on Sept. 18.
versus Kentucky (9-3, 3-1 SEC)
Date: Thursday, Oct. 2
Time/Site: 7 p.m. ET at Donald R. Dizney Stadium
Stream: SEC Network + with Matthew Stubbington and Ryan Urquhart calling the action
Audio Stream: Gators + with Nevada Cullen and Sky Lebron calling the action.
Stats
Admission: Free
Promotions: Join the Gators as they support the fight against cancer in their annual Kick Cancer match. The first 500 fans get a pink Kick Cancer wristband.
Tsakiris is the third Gator to earn a league mention this month as Addy Hess picked up the first SEC Freshman of the Week honor of September and Paloma Peña was the Sept. 22 SEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Other weekly SEC winners for Sept. 29 include:
Offensive: Amalia Villarreal| Texas
Defensive: Kennedy Husbands | Mississippi State
Quick Look at the Performance of Kai Tsakiris:
- Tsakiris drew a penalty kick and then stepped up to successfully convert the kick for her team leading third goal of the season.
- Tsakiris score helped the Gators earn a tie at No. 17 Georgia – the only league team to earn a point at a ranked team this weekend.
- The 2025 ECNL U-19 Player of the Year has started every match at midfield this season.
Florida faces a league-high five SEC teams that currently appear in the United Soccer Coaches top-25. The Georgia match was UF's fourth consecutive versus a top-25 team and second straight tie (Sept. 21 0-0 tie versus then No. 15 South Carolina).
Next Up:
The Gators (4-5-2, 0-2-2 SEC) starts October action Thursday with a home match versus Kentucky. The Wildcats opened league play with three home wins - then No. 20 Oklahoma (2-1), Missouri (1-0) and Alabama (2-1). The only SEC loss came at then No. 21 Georgia (1-0) on Sept. 18.
versus Kentucky (9-3, 3-1 SEC)
Date: Thursday, Oct. 2
Time/Site: 7 p.m. ET at Donald R. Dizney Stadium
Stream: SEC Network + with Matthew Stubbington and Ryan Urquhart calling the action
Audio Stream: Gators + with Nevada Cullen and Sky Lebron calling the action.
Stats
Admission: Free
Promotions: Join the Gators as they support the fight against cancer in their annual Kick Cancer match. The first 500 fans get a pink Kick Cancer wristband.
Players Mentioned
F/MF
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