Florida Gators Soccer defeats Mercer 3-0

GAINESVILLE, Florida –  The Florida soccer team opened NCAA play with a 3-0 win over the Mercer Bears Sunday in front of a sun-bathed crowd of 1,139 at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

Florida now advances to play host to NCAA Second Round action versus more Bears – this time the Pac 12’s California Bears. The Gators and the Bears meet Friday, Nov. 21. Cal advanced with a 3-2 overtime win over San Diego State Saturday.

In Sunday’s NCAA Opening Round action, Florida scored first when Lauren Smith<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=93> sent a ball down the right touchline. Tessa Andujar<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=76> ran the ball down, saved it from going out-of-bounds and then continued toward the end line to send a cross. Annie Speese<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=87>’s 12-yard left-footed volley scored at the far corner in the 19th minute.

Speese’s goal was the only goal for the next 62 minutes. Then Savannah Jordan<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=102> opened up the match with a pair of goals in the final nine minutes. The first started when fellow sophomore Pamela Begič<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=106> danced with the ball high in the Bears’ final defensive third, looking for an opening. She saw Jordan to her left just above the box and sent a pass to her feet. Jordan moved toward the goal and scored on a left-footed 12-yard shot to the far corner in the 82nd minute.

With less than a minute remaining, sophomore Liz Slattery<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=99>’s mid-circle pass found senior Havana Solaun<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=86> at the top of the Bears’ defensive third. She moved toward goal, with Jordan moving the same direction a few steps ahead. When Solaun crossed into the box, she put the ball at Jordan’s feet. The 10-yard shot hit in stride scored at the near-post upper slot with just 26 seconds remaining.

Gator Stars
● Today’s shutout is the 27th for goalkeeper Taylor Bur<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=79>ke – tying her with Katie Fraine<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2010&player_id=10> for the Gators’ career solo shutouts record. That’s not the only school record Burke has possession of, as the multi-sport star set Florida’s indoor high jump record with leap of 1.87m/6-1 ¾ at the 2014 Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships.

● Andujar turned in her 10th assist of 2014 on Florida’s opening goal. She is now tied for third in the Southeastern Conference. With her assist on Jordan’s final goal, Solaun is now tied for sixth in the SEC with a career-high nine assists.

● Jordan turned in her fourth multi-goal match of the season and the 11th of her career today. She leads the SEC in 2014 with 17 goals and 40 points.

● Speese has scored in the Gators’ last two matches, providing the only goal in a 1-1 2OT tie versus Tennessee at the SEC Tournament and then Florida’s opening goal today. She is now tied for third among the 2014 Gators with four goals this season.

Team Records:
Florida: 15-4-1, 9-2 SEC
Mercer: 14-6-2, 6-1-2 SoCon

The Series:
Florida leads the series 2-0. Both meetings (2010, 2014) have come in NCAA Opening Round action played in Gainesville. The Gators also won by a 3-0 score in the 2010 meeting.

What the Gators Said:
Opening statement…
“We are excited to be moving on, excited to get the shutout, excited to score three goals. It was a good day for the Gators.” – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh

On the team’s plan for preparations for NCAA play…
“We tried really hard to kind of get the best of both worlds in terms of the rest and recovery that we needed and combine that with some competition, which we had some great competition in practice last week. I thought our plan for that interval was really detailed so it gave us the best of both worlds. So I actually think that the situation we faced in Orange Beach was a real blessing for us.”– Florida head coach Becky Burleigh

On scoring the team’s first goal …
“When Tessa [Andujar] was taking it down the end line, I knew she was going to get the ball across. She always does. So I was just trying to get there. She played a fantastic ball.” – Florida midfielder Annie Speese

Do you feel the team played a more possession-oriented game today?
“I definitely think that we had control of the game. I thought particularly in the second half, it was dominant defensively for us. Our style of play wore them down a little bit – they were chasing the ball for a really long time. I think that is why it opened up late for us.” – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh

Talk about Mercer defensive play…
“We kind of expected that may be their game plan. In our sport, it is a great equalizer because it is never, ever easy to play against a defense where everyone gets behind the ball. When you add the pressure of a NCAA game, it makes it more difficult. I was excited we came out with three goals in the end because that’s a challenge. In our sport, it happens often and we handled it pretty well, I thought.” – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh

On your shutout in goal today which now ties you for Florida’s career lead for solo shutouts…
“I was definitely excited to get another shutout. Obviously this season and through my whole career, I’ve had a fantastic team in front of me and a fantastic defense as well. It is definitely nice to get the shutout today to start off the NCAA Tournament right.” – senior goalkeeper Taylor Burke

You kept pushing and got two goals in the final 10 minutes…
“It is like what Coach Becky said, we kind of wore them out in the second half. The way our team moved the ball really quickly, it allowed us to open up a lot of space. Both of my goals came off a great buildup from our team. The first one came off a buildup from our backs who got the ball to Pam [Begič] who played a great ball through. The second one was another great buildup and then Havana [Solaun] committing the defender and playing it over to me. I think we just opened them up, kept our composure and played really well.”– sophomore forward Savannah Jordan

Talk about the asset of Florida’s depth…
It was unseasonably warm today, so it was good for us to use our depth. Particularly in the first half because I really think that the game was won in the first half. We were leading only 1-0 but for us to go as deep as we did [with substitutes] in the first half and to utilize the players that we did, I think that allowed us to pour it on more in the second half. I think that is why the second half looked so dominant for us.” – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh

Mercer Quotes
Coach Tony Economopoulos
Opening Statement:
“We came in today playing a very talented, very good Florida team. A team that is talented enough to make it to the final four. We had a game plan in place to kind of frustrate them a little bit and take away how they play. I thought we did a pretty good job with that for 81 minutes. Unfortunately for us, we’re just not as deep as they are. They broke us down in the last 10 minutes, and got a couple more goals. I can’t fault our effort. I’m very proud of our girl’s efforts today. They did a phenomenal job working hard to defend them and counter. We created a couple good chances. Unfortunately we didn’t put one away, but we did very well and credit to Florida. They had a good game plan, and put three chances away. So I wish them all the best in the next round.”

Kristen Hagaman
On how competitive the game was and how confident they must have been holding the game at 1-0 for so long:
“We were really proud of how we played the first half. You know our basketball team beat Duke and so we were kind of thinking ‘Why can’t this be us?’ I’m really proud of how we played, and like coach said I think they’re a little deeper than we are. So we ended up getting tired at the end and letting in those two goals. I think we fought the whole time and I think we definitely stayed in it. I’m very proud of us for how we played.”

Washida Blackman
On not only being offensive but also defensive:
“In practice, we practiced a lot of that. Cover each other. I’m used to being the only forward – a center forward- so I’m used to there always being two center backs. I’ve kind of figured out a way to cut off the angle, but I’ll do whatever I can to help my team. If I can only be productive on defense in the game I’ll do that.”

Tess Patton
On getting to the NCAA Tournament and winning the Southern Conference:
“It’s been great. I came in from Auburn so it’s just nice. I get to be on the field all the time with all these girls. I just feel like I had a great three years. It’s sad that it has to come to an end, but I’d rather come out in the end playing a good team like this, like Florida than losing in the SoCon championship. I feel like it was a good three years here at Mercer.”

Coach Tony Economopoulos
On going forward and building off this experience:
“It’s great for us – recruiting wise – to have come to this level. We’re going to miss these 10 seniors. That’s going to be hard to replace. We have a good incoming class, but they’ll be young. For us, it helps us on the map as far as the NCAA Tournament. I told the girls after the game that this senior class has won more games in the four years than any other four-year class in the history of Mercer women’s soccer. So they have big shoes to fill, challenging the underclassmen and the incoming girls to compete. We want to get here before four years again. We’re very proud of them and we want to be a constant member of the NCAA Tournament.”

Notables:
● Florida advances after its opening NCAA match for the 14th time in the program’s 18 appearances.

● Jordan’s score with 26 seconds remaining in regulation was the third goal for the Gators this season in the final minute. Brooke Sharp<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=100> hit her first goal of 2014 at 89:24 in a 4-0 win at Oklahoma State on Aug. 31 and Slattery scored at 89:21 in the 6-1 win versus Vanderbilt on Oct. 30.

● The shutout was the seventh for Florida this season. The Gators open NCAA play with a shutout for the ninth time, which includes the last six appearances.

● Fifteen of the 16 teams seeded for the 2014 NCAA Soccer Championships advanced to next weekend’s second round. The only upset was Georgetown taking a 4-3 penalty kicks advantage to advance after the Hoyas and No. 3 region seed West Virginia played to a scoreless double overtime decision.

Next up:
The Gators will play host to NCAA Second and Third Round action next weekend at Dizney Stadium.

No. 3 region seed Texas Tech will meet Auburn at 3 p.m. with the Florida versus California match following at 7 p.m. Friday’s winners meet Sunday at 2 p.m. in NCAA Third Round play.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children (12 and under), senior citizen and students. The first 200 UF students showing a Gator1 identification are admitted free.

All of the Gators’ NCAA Tournament matches can be heard at GatorZone.com<http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&catid=0&DB_OEM_ID=6500>.




Mercer (14-6-2) at Florida (15-4-1)

Stadium: Donald R. Dizney (1,339)

Weather: 77 F, Partly Sunny, S at 9



Goals by Period


1


2


Total


Florida


1


2


3


Mercer


0


0


0




Scoring Summary

No.


Time


Team


Goal Scorer


Assist


Description


1.


18:53


UF


Annie Speese (4)


Tessa Andujar, Lauren Smith


12 yards from right side


2.


81:39


UF


Savannah Jordan (16)


Pamela Begič


15 yards from the right side


3.


89:34


UF


Savannah Jordan (17)


Havana Solaun, Liz Slattery


10 yards from the right side




Shots: Mercer 3, Florida 16

Saves: Mercer 1 (Maggie Cropp 1), Florida 2 (Taylor Burke 2)
GAINESVILLE, Florida –  The Florida soccer team opened NCAA play with a 3-0 win over the Mercer Bears Sunday in front of a sun-bathed crowd of 1,139 at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

Sunday’s NCAA Results

No. 2 region seed Florida 3, Mercer 0

Missouri 3, Kansas 1



For all NCAA First Round scores,

check out the NCAA bracket<http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/soccer-women/d1>.



Florida now advances to play host to NCAA Second Round action versus more Bears – this time the Pac 12’s California Bears. The Gators and the Bears meet Friday, Nov. 21. Cal advanced with a 3-2 overtime win over San Diego State Saturday.

In Sunday’s NCAA Opening Round action, Florida scored first when Lauren Smith<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=93> sent a ball down the right touchline. Tessa Andujar<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=76> ran the ball down, saved it from going out-of-bounds and then continued toward the end line to send a cross. Annie Speese<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=87>’s 12-yard left-footed volley scored at the far corner in the 19th minute.

Speese’s goal was the only goal for the next 62 minutes. Then Savannah Jordan<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=102> opened up the match with a pair of goals in the final nine minutes. The first started when fellow sophomore Pamela Begič<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=106> danced with the ball high in the Bears’ final defensive third, looking for an opening. She saw Jordan to her left just above the box and sent a pass to her feet. Jordan moved toward the goal and scored on a left-footed 12-yard shot to the far corner in the 82nd minute.

With less than a minute remaining, sophomore Liz Slattery<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=99>’s mid-circle pass found senior Havana Solaun<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=86> at the top of the Bears’ defensive third. She moved toward goal, with Jordan moving the same direction a few steps ahead. When Solaun crossed into the box, she put the ball at Jordan’s feet. The 10-yard shot hit in stride scored at the near-post upper slot with just 26 seconds remaining.

Gator Stars
● Today’s shutout is the 27th for goalkeeper Taylor Bur<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=79>ke – tying her with Katie Fraine<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2010&player_id=10> for the Gators’ career solo shutouts record. That’s not the only school record Burke has possession of, as the multi-sport star set Florida’s indoor high jump record with leap of 1.87m/6-1 ¾ at the 2014 Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships.

● Andujar turned in her 10th assist of 2014 on Florida’s opening goal. She is now tied for third in the Southeastern Conference. With her assist on Jordan’s final goal, Solaun is now tied for sixth in the SEC with a career-high nine assists.

● Jordan turned in her fourth multi-goal match of the season and the 11th of her career today. She leads the SEC in 2014 with 17 goals and 40 points.

● Speese has scored in the Gators’ last two matches, providing the only goal in a 1-1 2OT tie versus Tennessee at the SEC Tournament and then Florida’s opening goal today. She is now tied for third among the 2014 Gators with four goals this season.

Team Records:
Florida: 15-4-1, 9-2 SEC
Mercer: 14-6-2, 6-1-2 SoCon

The Series:
Florida leads the series 2-0. Both meetings (2010, 2014) have come in NCAA Opening Round action played in Gainesville. The Gators also won by a 3-0 score in the 2010 meeting.

What the Gators Said:
Opening statement…
“We are excited to be moving on, excited to get the shutout, excited to score three goals. It was a good day for the Gators.” – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh

On the team’s plan for preparations for NCAA play…
“We tried really hard to kind of get the best of both worlds in terms of the rest and recovery that we needed and combine that with some competition, which we had some great competition in practice last week. I thought our plan for that interval was really detailed so it gave us the best of both worlds. So I actually think that the situation we faced in Orange Beach was a real blessing for us.”– Florida head coach Becky Burleigh

On scoring the team’s first goal …
“When Tessa [Andujar] was taking it down the end line, I knew she was going to get the ball across. She always does. So I was just trying to get there. She played a fantastic ball.” – Florida midfielder Annie Speese

Do you feel the team played a more possession-oriented game today?
“I definitely think that we had control of the game. I thought particularly in the second half, it was dominant defensively for us. Our style of play wore them down a little bit – they were chasing the ball for a really long time. I think that is why it opened up late for us.” – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh

Talk about Mercer defensive play…
“We kind of expected that may be their game plan. In our sport, it is a great equalizer because it is never, ever easy to play against a defense where everyone gets behind the ball. When you add the pressure of a NCAA game, it makes it more difficult. I was excited we came out with three goals in the end because that’s a challenge. In our sport, it happens often and we handled it pretty well, I thought.” – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh

On your shutout in goal today which now ties you for Florida’s career lead for solo shutouts…
“I was definitely excited to get another shutout. Obviously this season and through my whole career, I’ve had a fantastic team in front of me and a fantastic defense as well. It is definitely nice to get the shutout today to start off the NCAA Tournament right.” – senior goalkeeper Taylor Burke

You kept pushing and got two goals in the final 10 minutes…
“It is like what Coach Becky said, we kind of wore them out in the second half. The way our team moved the ball really quickly, it allowed us to open up a lot of space. Both of my goals came off a great buildup from our team. The first one came off a buildup from our backs who got the ball to Pam [Begič] who played a great ball through. The second one was another great buildup and then Havana [Solaun] committing the defender and playing it over to me. I think we just opened them up, kept our composure and played really well.”– sophomore forward Savannah Jordan

Talk about the asset of Florida’s depth…
It was unseasonably warm today, so it was good for us to use our depth. Particularly in the first half because I really think that the game was won in the first half. We were leading only 1-0 but for us to go as deep as we did [with substitutes] in the first half and to utilize the players that we did, I think that allowed us to pour it on more in the second half. I think that is why the second half looked so dominant for us.” – Florida head coach Becky Burleigh

Mercer Quotes
Coach Tony Economopoulos
Opening Statement:
“We came in today playing a very talented, very good Florida team. A team that is talented enough to make it to the final four. We had a game plan in place to kind of frustrate them a little bit and take away how they play. I thought we did a pretty good job with that for 81 minutes. Unfortunately for us, we’re just not as deep as they are. They broke us down in the last 10 minutes, and got a couple more goals. I can’t fault our effort. I’m very proud of our girl’s efforts today. They did a phenomenal job working hard to defend them and counter. We created a couple good chances. Unfortunately we didn’t put one away, but we did very well and credit to Florida. They had a good game plan, and put three chances away. So I wish them all the best in the next round.”

Kristen Hagaman
On how competitive the game was and how confident they must have been holding the game at 1-0 for so long:
“We were really proud of how we played the first half. You know our basketball team beat Duke and so we were kind of thinking ‘Why can’t this be us?’ I’m really proud of how we played, and like coach said I think they’re a little deeper than we are. So we ended up getting tired at the end and letting in those two goals. I think we fought the whole time and I think we definitely stayed in it. I’m very proud of us for how we played.”

Washida Blackman
On not only being offensive but also defensive:
“In practice, we practiced a lot of that. Cover each other. I’m used to being the only forward – a center forward- so I’m used to there always being two center backs. I’ve kind of figured out a way to cut off the angle, but I’ll do whatever I can to help my team. If I can only be productive on defense in the game I’ll do that.”

Tess Patton
On getting to the NCAA Tournament and winning the Southern Conference:
“It’s been great. I came in from Auburn so it’s just nice. I get to be on the field all the time with all these girls. I just feel like I had a great three years. It’s sad that it has to come to an end, but I’d rather come out in the end playing a good team like this, like Florida than losing in the SoCon championship. I feel like it was a good three years here at Mercer.”

Coach Tony Economopoulos
On going forward and building off this experience:
“It’s great for us – recruiting wise – to have come to this level. We’re going to miss these 10 seniors. That’s going to be hard to replace. We have a good incoming class, but they’ll be young. For us, it helps us on the map as far as the NCAA Tournament. I told the girls after the game that this senior class has won more games in the four years than any other four-year class in the history of Mercer women’s soccer. So they have big shoes to fill, challenging the underclassmen and the incoming girls to compete. We want to get here before four years again. We’re very proud of them and we want to be a constant member of the NCAA Tournament.”

Notables:
● Florida advances after its opening NCAA match for the 14th time in the program’s 18 appearances.

● Jordan’s score with 26 seconds remaining in regulation was the third goal for the Gators this season in the final minute. Brooke Sharp<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=100> hit her first goal of 2014 at 89:24 in a 4-0 win at Oklahoma State on Aug. 31 and Slattery scored at 89:21 in the 6-1 win versus Vanderbilt on Oct. 30.

● The shutout was the seventh for Florida this season. The Gators open NCAA play with a shutout for the ninth time, which includes the last six appearances.

● Fifteen of the 16 teams seeded for the 2014 NCAA Soccer Championships advanced to next weekend’s second round. The only upset was Georgetown taking a 4-3 penalty kicks advantage to advance after the Hoyas and No. 3 region seed West Virginia played to a scoreless double overtime decision.

Next up:
The Gators will play host to NCAA Second and Third Round action next weekend at Dizney Stadium.

No. 3 region seed Texas Tech will meet Auburn at 3 p.m. with the Florida versus California match following at 7 p.m. Friday’s winners meet Sunday at 2 p.m. in NCAA Third Round play.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children (12 and under), senior citizen and students. The first 200 UF students showing a Gator1 identification are admitted free.

All of the Gators’ NCAA Tournament matches can be heard at GatorZone.com<http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&catid=0&DB_OEM_ID=6500>.




Mercer (14-6-2) at Florida (15-4-1)

Stadium: Donald R. Dizney (1,339)

Weather: 77 F, Partly Sunny, S at 9



Goals by Period


1


2


Total


Florida


1


2


3


Mercer


0


0


0




Scoring Summary

No.


Time


Team


Goal Scorer


Assist


Description


1.


18:53


UF


Annie Speese (4)


Tessa Andujar, Lauren Smith


12 yards from right side


2.


81:39


UF


Savannah Jordan (16)


Pamela Begič


15 yards from the right side


3.


89:34


UF


Savannah Jordan (17)


Havana Solaun, Liz Slattery


10 yards from the right side




Shots: Mercer 3, Florida 16

Saves: Mercer 1 (Maggie Cropp 1), Florida 2 (Taylor Burke 2)
Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.