Florida Gators soccer defeats Missouri in SEC quarterfinals

The 15th ranked Florida Gators soccer team (13-4) faced the Missouri Tigers (11-6-1) in the SEC Soccer Tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday. It was the second straight meeting between the two teams. Florida beat Mizzou 1-0 last week and found a way to win again, this time 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout.
The Tigers struck first in the third minute of the game after not scoring a single goal in last week’s matchup. Jessica Johnson was assisted by Allie Hess for Missouri’s first score of the game.
After a slow start for Florida, Melanie Monteagudo had plenty of time and perfectly placed a ball into the back of the net for her first score of the night to tie the game up. Ten minutes later, the Gators had another opportunity with a corner kick and Sarah Troccoli took advantage with an assist from Meggie Dougherty Howard to put Florida up 2-1. The Gators would take that score into halftime.
Florida came out firing to start the second half with a quick goal by Monteagudo in the 47th minute for her second goal of the match. The Gators soon became complacent after taking a comfortable lead.
Melanie Donaldson scored in the 64th minute for Mizzou and was quickly followed a minute later with a header by Johnson for her second goal of the night. The Tigers carried that momentum through the rest of the half and had a huge opportunity on a penalty kick in the 86th minute. Donaldson placed it right into the stomach of Florida goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese to keep the game tied 3-3.
The match was sent into two overtime periods and still neither team could find a way to score. That sent the game into a penalty kick shootout. After seven penalty kicks by each team all finding the back of the net, Marckese finally saved one for the Gators and Monteagudo made the following penalty kick to end the game.
Coming Up Next:
The Gators will take on the 2nd ranked South Carolina Gamecocks in semi-finals of the SEC Tournament. The Gamecocks are undefeated in the 2016 season. Florida took South Carolina into overtime in a 1-0 loss back on October 16. The match will be at 4:30 p.m. this Friday on SEC Network.

Bailiegh Carlton
A lifelong sports fan, Bailiegh Carlton knew from a young age that she wanted to work in sports in some capacity. Before transferring to the University of Florida to study journalism, she played softball at Gulf Coast State College. She then interned for Gator Country for three years as she worked toward her degree. After graduation, Bailiegh decided to explore other opportunities in the world of sports, but all roads led her right back here. In her time away, she and her husband welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. When she isn't working, she can almost always be found snuggled up with sweet baby Ridley, Cody and her four fur babies.