Wednesday, August 5
Gainesville, FL
5 p.m.
Florida Gators
vs
Miami (Exhibition)
Sophia Sindelar (right) and the rest of the Gators withstood a four-hour weather delay Wednesday to start preseason action with an exhibition match versus Miami. [Photo: Mia Tunon]
Florida and Miami Exhibition Wednesday
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Heavy rains and lightning pushed the start of Wednesday's unscored exhibition soccer match between Florida and Miami back four hours to a 5 p.m. start.
But once play began at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium, it provided the Florida coaching staff a great opportunity to see how different players worked together as they experimented with a variety of formations.
"Really just proud of the group. We talked about the game before the game, just the courage needed. The courage to make mistakes. Right? We knew it's not gonna be perfect. We've gone over some things, but like we joke all the time. It's like your baby's blanket - you can't cover everything. So we were happy with the things that we asked them to implement, and just literally going through, it'll always be about the performance," Florida Head Coach Zimmerman said. "That's how we wanted to judge and evaluate the players today.
"We asked them to play two different shapes, and we played against, obviously, a good opponent that played in a new shape. And so I think from that standpoint, it was great for us to problem solve and players playing with different players, mixing up the groups, etcetera. It was a lot of fun. So we're pleased with where we're at, but, again, this is just part of the process."
Senior Lena Bailey, who hit a goal Wednesday, liked that the team was able to put what is worked on in training out in a game atmosphere.
"It feels good just to be back with my teammates, new ones, old ones, just to show what we've been putting in and doing all the work over at the practice field and translating it over here," Bailey said.
Florida closes exhibition play Saturday, Aug. 8 with a home match versus Florida International. Action starts at 4 p.m. and admission is free at Dizney Stadium.
But once play began at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium, it provided the Florida coaching staff a great opportunity to see how different players worked together as they experimented with a variety of formations.
"Really just proud of the group. We talked about the game before the game, just the courage needed. The courage to make mistakes. Right? We knew it's not gonna be perfect. We've gone over some things, but like we joke all the time. It's like your baby's blanket - you can't cover everything. So we were happy with the things that we asked them to implement, and just literally going through, it'll always be about the performance," Florida Head Coach Zimmerman said. "That's how we wanted to judge and evaluate the players today.
"We asked them to play two different shapes, and we played against, obviously, a good opponent that played in a new shape. And so I think from that standpoint, it was great for us to problem solve and players playing with different players, mixing up the groups, etcetera. It was a lot of fun. So we're pleased with where we're at, but, again, this is just part of the process."
Senior Lena Bailey, who hit a goal Wednesday, liked that the team was able to put what is worked on in training out in a game atmosphere.
"It feels good just to be back with my teammates, new ones, old ones, just to show what we've been putting in and doing all the work over at the practice field and translating it over here," Bailey said.
Florida closes exhibition play Saturday, Aug. 8 with a home match versus Florida International. Action starts at 4 p.m. and admission is free at Dizney Stadium.
Players Mentioned
F
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