Special to GC BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Goals from three different Gators gave the University of Florida soccer team a 3-0 win under a cloudless blue sky Sunday at the LSU Soccer Stadium. The win was the road finale for Florida’s regular-season schedule. Florida struck first in the opening half when Havana Solaun<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=86> brought the ball down the center of the LSU half and played a leading pass to Savannah Jordan<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=102>. Her right-footed shot from the middle of the box in the 23rd minute scored at the upper slot of the goal. The second goal of the half started when Meggie Dougherty Howard<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=104> fed a ball to Betsy Middleton<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=104> just a few steps inside the UF half. She took a touch, looked up and then sent a low ball down the middle of the LSU half. Junior Brooke Smith<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=92> ran onto the ball and one-touched it into the far post corner from 10 yards in the 42nd minute. The only goal of the second half started when Solaun took a touch to get past her defender above the LSU box and then began moving down the right side. Solaun brought the ball deep into the box and scored in the 51st minute with her eight-yard shot to the far post. Gator Stars ● Today’s goal was the 14th of the season for Jordan, who entered Sunday’s action as the Southeastern Conference goals leader. It was her third for the weekend as she turned in her 10th career multi-goal match of her Gator career with a pair of goals versus Tennessee on Friday. ● Brooke Smith scored her second goal of her career today, with both goals coming this season. ● Solaun hit her fifth goal of the season and the 26th of her career. That total moves her into a tie for 11th with Gator Athletic Hall of Fame member Erin Baxter on Florida’s all-time goals chart. 2014 Records: Florida: 13-4, 8-2 SEC LSU: 5-12-2, 1-8-1 SEC What the Gators Said: What did you like in the Gators’ performance in today’s win? “We were happy to get back on the end of a shutout. That was important for us, especially on the road, and to have a total team effort. “Whenever we have the opportunity to showcase our depth, we need to because that is a strength of our team. I thought the people who came in kept the level high, kept the pressure on and that’s what we were looking for.” - Florida head coach Becky Burleigh What happened on your goal? “We had a good build-up from the middle and then Havana got it and was running at the backline. The two center backs went to her and I just made a run out wide. She played me a great ball, took a touch in and hit it with my right foot.” - sophomore forward Savannah Jordan How did you think the Gators performed today? “I think we did a good job of playing the way we’ve been trying to play all year. Sunday games are always more difficult but we stayed patient, moved for each other and when we do that, the game opens up a lot.” - senior midfielder Havana Solaun What led to your goal? “Meggie [Dougherty Howard] won a header and then Savannah [Jordan] did a one touch back across. They were playing a really high line so I just touched it by and ran. I was running at the goalkeeper and I figured that I needed to create some type of angle so I took a big touch and was able to get behind her.” - senior midfielder Havana Solaun Worth Noting ● Florida is now 15-1-2 all-time versus the Tigers, including 7-0-1 in Baton Rouge. ● The shutout was the sixth for Florida this season and the first since a 1-0 win at then No. 9 Texas A&M on Oct. 3. The shutout between Gator goalkeepers Taylor Burke<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=79> and Valerie Tysinger<http://www.gatorzone.com/soccer/bios.php?year=2014&player_id=95>. Tysinger started the second half, but had a collision with a LSU player after 16 minutes of action. Burke returned to finish the match as Tysinger went to the sideline to be examined by UF’s athletic training staff. ● Florida used every player available today - 22. The Gators also used 22 in the 3-1 win versus Missouri on Sept. 28. Next up: The Gators return home to play host to Vanderbilt for the regular-season finale on Thursday, Oct. 30. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at the James G. Pressly Stadium. The match airs live on the SEC Network and can also be seen on Watch ESPN<http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/1995230/College-Soccer-Vanderbilt-vs-Florida>. Thursday’s match is Halloween Eve and some spooky promotions are planned: * Fright Night Fans dress up in your favorite Halloween Costume to fright or delight, Gator Prize packs will be awarded to fans who are selected for the halftime costume contest * Halloween Bags The first 1,000 fans will receive a Gator Halloween bags. Gator fans can also bring a non-perishable food item to the match to donate as the Gator soccer team looks to Strike Out Hunger. Those that bring a food donation are registered to win a Florida Soccer prize pack Donated items benefit numerous banks and pantries around the community. The Commodores are 7-8-1 overall and stand 2-5-1 in the SEC. They play Mississippi later today.
Florida Gator soccer