Special report on the Florida Gators soccer team:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 15 Florida soccer lost 2-1 at No. 11 Texas A&M this afternoon at Ellis Field.
It was a traditional meeting between the two programs. Sunday’s result was the 13th one-goal decision in the 17-match all-time series between the two teams.
Sunday’s scoring:
The opening goal came in the 22nd minute when Texas A&M’s Barbara Olivieri’s corner kick curled in to kick in off the far post.
A foul was called on Florida’s Parker Roberts when she bumped TAMU’s Lauren Geczik inside the top corner of the box. Jimena Lopez scored on the resulting penalty kick in the 28th minute.
The first goal of second half was also the first Gator goal for sophomore Syd Kennedy. Madison Alexander tried to play the ball into the box but it deflected off the legs of TAMU defenders. Alexander picked up the deflection, sliding to poke the ball to Kenned located at the top of the box. With her natural left foot, Kennedy scored on a 17-yard shot to the far post in the 58th minute.
Worth Noting:
* Gator sophomore Kouri Peace left the match early in the second half with an ankle injury. She’ll be examined by UF team doctors when the Gators return to Gainesville.
* Florida goalkeeper Susi Espinoza turned in a season-high six saves Sunday
* This is the 10th time both teams brought a national ranking into a meeting.
* Texas A&M was Florida’s third consecutive ranked opponent to open 2020 action. The Gators opened 2020 with a tie versus No. 8 Georgia (1-1 2OT) and then won versus then No. 15 Alabama (2-1)
Records:
Florida: 1-1-1, 1-1-1 SEC
Texas A&M 2-1-0, 2-1-0 SEC
All-Time Series Record:
Texas A&M leads 9-8
What the Gators Said:
On today’s match:
“I thought in the first half Texas A&M did a really good job of playing physically against us and we really didn’t respond that well. In the second half, we stepped it up. The second half was a different game for us. But probably too little too late.
“It’s a really good lesson for us when playing on the road – or anywhere, to be fair – we need to start out a little grittier right from the beginning and not try to work our way into the game.” Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
On her goal:
“We’ve been stressing a lot to play simple and two-touch. That goal started with Cassidy [Lindley] and Madi Alexander on the right side. They played a simple two-touch game. It popped out to me and I finished it.” – sophomore Syd Kennedy
Syd Kennedy’s first collegiate goal:
“It was a good goal. A bunch of people kept the ball moving and when it got to Syd Kennedy, she had a great finish.” – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
What the Gators take from today’s result:
“We need to bring energy from the first minutes. There’s been too much starting slow and trying to pick it up in the second half. We saw today it was too late. Hopefully in the next game we’ll bring it from the first minute and carry it through all 90.” – sophomore Syd Kennedy
Next Up:
Florida returns home to play host to Vanderbilt for Kicking for the Cure – UF’s annual cancer awareness match. Vanderbilt lost 2-1 in double overtime at South Carolina this afternoon.
When: 6 p.m. / Oct. 18
Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium
Free Admission: Capped at 368 to ensure social distancing
Streaming Video: SEC Network +<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D07bd3a5d-2D7b6d-2D4fbe-2D9053-2D6bf928a6a695&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=1b55ZnT_6DbiKZVMgp0xtkM0zE9T7zH5NZNQQFmNyIM&s=TR-jEy_crYJr7-HOzOkL5v1z-oSClXrV7BR6QERNOao&e= >
No. 15 Florida (1-1-1, 1-1-1 SEC) at No. 11 Texas A&M (2-1-0, 2-1-0 SEC)
Stadium: Ellis Field (566)
Weather: 89 degrees, 10 mph SSW winds, clear, 52% humidity
Goals by Period
1
2
Total
Florida
0
1
1
Texas A&M
2
0
2
Scoring Summary:
No.
Time
Team
Goal Scorer
Assist
1.
21:16
TAMU
Barbara Olivieri
2.
27:31
TAMU
Jimena Lopez
3.
57:22
UF
Syd Kennedy
Madison Alexander
Shots: Florida 5, Texas A&M 18
Saves: Florida 6 (Susi Espinoza 6); Texas A&M 3 (Shantel Hutton 3)