Special report on the Florida Gators soccer team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators opened up the 2017 season with a 3-2 exhibition win over SEC foe Mississippi State as Briana Solis scored the winner with 1:19 remaining.
With the game tied at 2-2, the Gators would mount one last attack with 90 seconds left in the game. The ball was fed out to Melanie Monteagudo on the right edge of the box. Monteagudo made a move to get around her defender. She fed in a pass with her left into Solis who took one touch before turning and firing a shot past the Bulldog keeper.
Monteagudo found the back of the net herself in the first half. After the opening goal by Mississippi State’s Kristen Malebranche, Florida raced back down the left flank and into the box. With the keeper trying to play the ball, it left plenty of time and space for Monteagudo. She curled a floating shot over the retreating defenders which found the top right corner of the net.
The Bulldogs answered back to take a 2-1 lead heading into halftime.
After a scoreless first 20 minutes of the second half, a pass to Mayra Pelayo unlocked the Bulldog backline. She fired a shot that was parried away by the goalkeeper. One of the Mississippi State defenders attempted to clear the ball out of play but, it went in the back of the net to tie the game 2-2.
Next Up:
Florida will open up the regular season on the road when it travels to Boca Raton to take on FAU on August 18. The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.