#22 Florida Gators soccer ties #2 UCLA at home

Special report on the Florida Gators soccer team:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 22 Florida soccer and 2017 NCAA runner-up and current No. 2 UCLA played to a scoreless tie on a humid evening Friday at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__floridagators.com_facilities_-3Fid-3D8&d=DwIFAg&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=6MG06PG_fwpe7ULfewi6NrFR2j_4ngNZtgGHhDCeRY0&m=K-fY0oToBgFqNcYT4MIaP7F6tBS4f6O_8jaluBUbu3Y&s=1CqbmbLHpmJ9Ckd0hh0udZiGlpSJboFNQHaJCLHnKC8&e=>.

The match got off to a late start as an accident on I-75 delayed two of the match officials. The double overtime match added to the late evening.

To Note:

*         Senior goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese turned in a collegiate-high eight saves Friday. Her previous high of six saves was turned in seven times.

*         UCLA outshot the Gators 17-5 Friday. Florida’s most dangerous opportunity came with 13 minutes remaining in the second half. Sarah Troccoli’s ball down the middle of the box found Cassidy Lindley. She moved toward goal but her shot was just wide of the near post.

*         Lais Araujo also had a great look in the 53rd minute. Her 20-yard curler just about caught the upper far post corner.

*         Florida is now 4-4-1 all-time versus a team ranked No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. This is the first time UF has faced the No. 2 team in Gainesville.

*         The last time Florida played consecutive overtime matches also included UCLA. In 2016 early season action, Florida lost at Stanford 1-0 in overtime and won 4-3 OT at UCLA.

*         With the shutout, Marckese moves closer to Florida’s career shutouts record (27: Taylor Burke and Katie Fraine). Tonight’s shutout was the 23rd for Marckese.

What the Gators Said:
Opening Statement:
“We just wanted to come out and really battle and show some improvement from last weekend, and I think we definitely did that. The level of intensity of what we did was high. I really thought we were going to come on the counter and sneak one in against them. Credit to UCLA for keeping us out of the net.” – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh

On Kaylan Marckese’s performance tonight:
“She made some good saves. I think that her distribution is a big part of what we do. I think it’s good to see her stepping up in these moments. And for her to get a shutout, it’s the first shutout we’ve had this season – and against the number two team in the nation.” – – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh

On the match ending in a tie:
“Looking at our past weekend, we struggled a lot. We weren’t playing the way we’re capable of playing. So even we didn’t get the win today, we’re really happy with the way we improved as a team and how we came together. It was a battle the whole time. Props to UCLA, too. They gave a really hard fight. I think we are happy with our own progress, but obviously it’s not the result we wanted.” – senior captain Sarah Troccoli

On UCLA’s offense:
“They were good. They are really good individually. One on one trying to find their chances. I tried to save them all. They didn’t let up. They brought it but I’m proud of our team, especially our defense. They held it down out there.” – senior goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese

On the game ending in a tie:
“It’s better than a loss. Obviously we want the win, but it will come. The goals will come.” – senior goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese

NCAA Title Coaches:
Leading the teams Friday were the first two women to lead their team to a NCAA title.

Florida’s Becky Burleigh was the first in 1998 and UCLA’s Amanda Cromwell became the second in 2013. In the 36-year history of NCAA Division I soccer, three women have coached the national title team (third is Penn State’s Ericha Dambach/2015).

Preseason Conference Votes:
Florida took third in the 2017 SEC regular-season standings. UCLA was second in the 2017 Pac-12 standings.

Florida – The SEC coaches picked the Gators to win the 2018 Southeastern Conference title<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2018_8_13_florida-2Dis-2Dsoccer-2Dcoaches-2Dpreseason-2Dpick-2Dfor-2D2018-2Dsec-2Dtitle.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=6MG06PG_fwpe7ULfewi6NrFR2j_4ngNZtgGHhDCeRY0&m=K-fY0oToBgFqNcYT4MIaP7F6tBS4f6O_8jaluBUbu3Y&s=czDkyKS2kBtdx8JOr3lwNKwJaSqi_VcUap5VVVWFmJY&e=>.

UCLA – The Bruins are picked to finish second in the Pac-12<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__pac-2D12.com_article_2018_08_06_stanford-2Dpicked-2Dwin-2D2018-2Dpac-2D12-2Dwomens-2Dsoccer-2Dtitle&d=DwIFAg&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=6MG06PG_fwpe7ULfewi6NrFR2j_4ngNZtgGHhDCeRY0&m=K-fY0oToBgFqNcYT4MIaP7F6tBS4f6O_8jaluBUbu3Y&s=wms6LEnjEMt2Dwk889YC9c4biimU9WZcqDSghRwgYM8&e=>. Defending NCAA champion Stanford is the Pac-12’s preseason pick to win the league.

Rankings:
Florida ranks No. 22 on the Aug. 28 United Soccer Coaches (USC) poll<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__unitedsoccercoaches.org_web_Rankings_College-5FRankings_NCAA-5FDI-5FWOMEN_web_rankings_ncaa_di-5Fwomen.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=6MG06PG_fwpe7ULfewi6NrFR2j_4ngNZtgGHhDCeRY0&m=K-fY0oToBgFqNcYT4MIaP7F6tBS4f6O_8jaluBUbu3Y&s=Jq7B99PuDC6JAYx3zqGTtZWoYxJKW0dOMlh3MAr7XdM&e=> and UCLA is No. 2.

Next Up:
Florida continues home play versus top-10 teams Sunday at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_facilities_-3Fid-3D8&d=DwIFAg&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=6MG06PG_fwpe7ULfewi6NrFR2j_4ngNZtgGHhDCeRY0&m=K-fY0oToBgFqNcYT4MIaP7F6tBS4f6O_8jaluBUbu3Y&s=e27eXrFAKmQV9JAobKP7rxS1nYuRZe2yOXOpgKLAEcw&e=> when No. 7 Southern California makes its first visit to Gainesville since 2003. The Trojans tied No. 4 Florida State 0-0 2OT in Tallahassee Friday.

No. 7 Southern California – .Sunday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.

*         Saluting Those Who Serve – all members of the armed services and first responders honored

*         Post-match autographs and Coach Burleigh & select players meet with young fans post-match

*         Free admission at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_facilities_-3Fid-3D8&d=DwIFAg&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=6MG06PG_fwpe7ULfewi6NrFR2j_4ngNZtgGHhDCeRY0&m=K-fY0oToBgFqNcYT4MIaP7F6tBS4f6O_8jaluBUbu3Y&s=e27eXrFAKmQV9JAobKP7rxS1nYuRZe2yOXOpgKLAEcw&e=>

Follow Sunday’s match:
SEC Network +<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.espn.com_watch_-5F_id_3429325_usc-2Dvs-2Dflorida-2Dw-2Dsoccer&d=DwIFAg&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=6MG06PG_fwpe7ULfewi6NrFR2j_4ngNZtgGHhDCeRY0&m=K-fY0oToBgFqNcYT4MIaP7F6tBS4f6O_8jaluBUbu3Y&s=OTDHf9B9CQAiMzAmG4FC9l93Xjd4AGN2JdB55qamCWk&e=>
GatorVision.com<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_watch_-3FLive-3D2060-26type-3DArchive&d=DwIFAg&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=6MG06PG_fwpe7ULfewi6NrFR2j_4ngNZtgGHhDCeRY0&m=K-fY0oToBgFqNcYT4MIaP7F6tBS4f6O_8jaluBUbu3Y&s=eVlA1Hs2Ri4OjW7NV9bZ-uxUGloRtRiQ2wS9ZlMtlsA&e=>

No. 2 UCLA (2-0-1, 0-0 Pac-12) at No. 22 Florida (2-2-1, 0-0 SEC)

Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium (658)

Weather: 83 degrees, winds E 6 mph, 71% humidity

Goals by Period

1

2

OT

OT2

Total

UCLA

0

0

0

0

0

Florida

0

0

0

0

0

Scoring Summary:

No.

Time

Team

Goal Scorer

Assist

Description

Shots: UCLA 17 Florida 5

Saves: UCLA 1 (Teagan Micah 1) Florida 8 (Kaylan Marckese 8)

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.