TALLAHASSEE – A sudden strike by Gator sophomore McKenzie Barney brought a sudden end to the marquee match-up featuring the No. 6 Florida (6-0, 0-0 SEC) and No. 10 Florida State (4-2, 0-0 ACC) soccer teams Friday evening in front of 2,000 fans at the Seminole Soccer Complex. Barney’s goal after just 15 seconds of overtime action gave UF the 2-1 OT win.
In the first 16 meetings between the two teams, all matches were decided in regulation. But the last two meeting have gone to overtime, with Florida State winning 1-0 OT last year in Gainesville and the Gators taking the 2-1 OT win tonight in Tallahassee.
It was the second consecutive year both teams brought top-10 national rankings into their regular-season meeting.
The golden goal, the first for Barney who now leads UF this season with five goals, came off the overtime kickoff. Holly King won the ball and sent it to Nicky Kit on the left sideline. Kit brought the ball toward the endline and then served it into the box. Barney, surrounded by FSU players, was just able to get a foot on it to score at the near post corner.
“It was another Florida-Florida State thriller, just as we expected,” UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh said. “It was a terrific finish in terms of the goal It was literally just like we drew up. Kickoff is a set piece for us. It was a beautiful serve, beautiful finish. It showed great focus to come back after giving up a late goal. FSU forced overtime when Janice Cayman put in a header at the far post off the assist from Ines Jaurena in the 89th minute.
Barney thought the tying goal came when the Gators didn’t have the possession advantage.
“It was kind of a loss of focus,” Barney said. “We play our beautiful game of soccer when we keep possession. We were losing possession and that led to some frustration. And that is exactly what they wanted because they have some players with a huge boot. They just got on the end of one them and scored.”
Junior Jazmyne Avant thought Burleigh’s words as the team prepared for overtime brought that focus back for the Gators.
“She told everyone to take a deep breath, including all the coaches and even if you weren’t playing. She just spoke calmly and said “You’ve got this. You do this everyday in practice. Just relax, do what we are capable of and we’ll get this.”
Sophomore Erika Tymrak scored her first goal of the season in the 62nd minute to open Friday’s scoring. Tahnai Annis took a shot in the box which FSU goalkeeper Kelsey Wys blocked, but couldn’t contain it. Tymrak found the deflected ball at the far post and hit the six-yard shot.
UF goalkeeper Katie Fraine was needed to make a pair of saves in the opening half. With 30 minutes played, Tori Huster’s 18-yard shot was stopped when Fraine dove right to stop it at the far post. Fraine again made the stop, this time at the center of the goal,on Kassey Kallman’s shot off the Tiana Brockway’s corner kick in the 41st minute. For the match, Fraine turned in three saves while Wys turned in a pair of saves.
Florida continues road action versus ranked Atlantic Coast Conference opponents next weekend in Durham, N.C. The Gators face No. 15 Duke (4-1, 0-0 ACC) on Friday, Sept. 17 in a match which will air live on Fox Soccer Channel (Gainesville/Ocala Cox Cable channel 255) at 8:30 p.m. Then UF faces two-time defending NCAA champion and current No. 1 North Carolina (4-0-1, 0-0 ACC) on Sunday, Sept. 19 at noon.
Scoring Summary: 1st 2nd OT1 Final
Florida 0 1 1 2
Florida State 0 1 0 1
Scoring:
UF: Erika Tymrak (Tahnai Annis) 61:28
FSU: Janie Cayman (Ines Jaurena) 88:57
UF: McKenzie Barney (Nicky Kit) 90:15
Goalkeepers:
Minutes Saves GA
Florida Katie Fraine 90.15 3 1
FSU Kelsey Wys 90:15 2 2
StatSaves 3 2
Corner Kicks 3 4
Fouls 10 3
Offside 0 1