Special report on the Florida Gators soccer team:
TAMPA, Fla. – Florida soccer opened 2021 with a 2-1 loss Thursday at No. 20 South Florida.
Thursday’s scoring:
USF took the lead into halftime after Chloe Zamiela scored in the 40th minute.
The Gators came out of halftime on attack, as graduate Kit Loferski knotted the score in the 47th minute. Sophomore Cece Price sent a cross forward and Loferski got the step on her defender to chip the Bulls keeper for the tying goal.
USF hit the go-ahead goal in the 50th minute from Madeline Penman-Derstine off a nice connecting passes from Sydny Nasello and Paula Leblic.
For the match, 17 Gators appeared.
Worth Noting
* Loferski’s goal is her sixth as a Gator and her first since Sept. 19, 2019 at LSU. She also scored when UF last visited USF in 2019 (2-0 win).
* Alexa Goldberg’s 13 saves is the second highest ever for a Gator in a match (record: 16 by Jordan Kellgren in double overtime win at UCLA in 2001 NCAA Quarterfinal).
* Tonight’s match was the first for Florida Head Coach Tony Amato, who joined the Gators in May. He is the second coach in the program’s 27 seasons.
* On its last visit to Corbett Stadium in 2019, that meeting set an attendance record of 2,011. Tonight’s crowd of 1,956 was just behind that record total
Records:
Florida: 0-1-0, 0-0-0 SEC
South Florida: 1-0-0, 0-0-0 AAC
Series Record:
Florida leads 6-2-2
What the Gators Said:
On tonight’s result:
“Definitely not the result we wanted. South Florida played like a seasoned team that’s ranked in the top 20. They made it difficult on us. Some of the positives were that I thought Alexa (Goldberg) did a really good job in goal. Overall, the team grinded, worked hard and found a way to get the goal after halftime. That was a great finish by Kit [Loferski] to come out of halftime and do that.
“Of course, there are a lot of things we need to work on. We are trying to figure it all out. We’ve got some work to do. I don’t want to take too many moral victories out of it as we are trying to win and trying to get results. We’ve got some work to do but we saw where we are and we’ll get to work tomorrow.” – Florida Head Coach Tony Amato
What happened on your goal?
I saw there was some open space behind the backline. I know Cece (Price) has a great left foot and played a perfect – could not have asked for a better ball – and saw the keeper off the line. I honestly hoped the best on my shot.” – graduate Kit Loferski
On what the team will take from tonight’s match:
“We now have film and things we can learn from. I have no doubts about the rest of the season. This is not by any means a setback. We will keep pushing forward and I’m excited for the rest of it.” – graduate Kit Loferski
On her double-digit saves:
“Obviously, you don’t want to have to be making 13 saves in a game. I think even with the saves, I think the way our defense played was full of heart. We never have a problem with the running and the effort. It’s a new system and we’re still learning. It’s not the result we wanted but it’s a clear foundation we’ve set for ourselves tonight.” – sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Goldberg
Next Up:
Florida opens a three-match homestand Sunday versus Texas. The Longhorns lost 4-0 Thursday at UCF.
Sunday, Aug. 22 vs. Texas
Time: Noon ET
Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_2020_4_4_donald-2Dr-2Ddizney-2Dstadium.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_ptVzido5tbflpj0pIvxnPg_TvDXZlrbZhEYD4Ol5-A&s=Kl1gthU1JPoEc8bWjU_COOauljvISh9OztciYPBGsP8&e= >
Streaming Video: SEC Network +<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player_-5F_id_95270169-2Ddc8b-2D440c-2D8293-2Db793786fd5e4&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_ptVzido5tbflpj0pIvxnPg_TvDXZlrbZhEYD4Ol5-A&s=7I_dliC4IASHrFpY4iD6-pJbBR9MZsaGP5c7jWfkCpg&e= > with Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington calling the action
Radio: ESPN 98.1 FM 850<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/> AM with Skyler Lebron and Juan Aguerrevere calling the action
Tickets: Free admission
Live Stats<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__stats.statbroadcast.com_statmonitr_-3Fid-3D354805&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_ptVzido5tbflpj0pIvxnPg_TvDXZlrbZhEYD4Ol5-A&s=BnSYhGajFjRMd51XjqiplPdfcNyO0BvEFD8X00DaWrU&e= >
Florida (0-1-0, SEC 0-0-0) at No. 20 South Florida (1-0-0, 0-0-0 AAC)
Stadium: Corbett Soccer Stadium
Weather: 88 degrees, winds NW at 6 mph, 61% humidity
Goals by Period
1
2
Total
Florida
0
1
1
South Florida
1
1
2
Scoring Summary:
No.
Time
Team
Goal Scorer
Assist
1.
39:22
USF
Chloe Zamiela
2.
46:15
UF
Kit Loferski
Cece Price
3.
49:33
USF
Madeleine Penman-Derstine
Sydny Nasello, Paula Leblic
Shots: Florida 6, South Florida 20
Saves: Florida 13 (Alexa Goldberg 13), South Florida 3 (Sydney Martinez 2)
Offsides: UF 4, USF 1