Florida Gators Soccer to host Mercer in round 1

GAINESVILLE, Florida -- The University of Florida soccer team plays host to Mercer on Sunday, Nov. 16 for NCAA First Round action. Match time is set for 2 p.m. at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium<http://www.gatorzone.com/facilities/drdizney>. Florida is a No. 2 region seed.

[cid:image001.jpg@01CFFD1E.0E0A8390]

NCAA Soccer Championship Information - Gainesville, Fla. Site

Florida (14-4-1, 9-2 SEC) versus Mercer (14-5-2, 6-1-2 SoCon)





Date:

Sunday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.





Time:

2 p.m.





Stadium:

Donald R. Dizney Stadium<http://www.gatorzone.com/facilities/drdizney>





Tickets:

$7.00 adults



$3.00 children 12 & under, students and senior citizens



First 200 UF students with identification (Gator1 ID card) are admitted free



For more information, contact the UAA Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, ext. 6800 or 1-800-34GATOR, ext. 6800 (state of Florida only)





Internet:

Live stats available on www.NCAASports.com; live audio & video for UF-MU match available at www.GatorZone.com





Florida NCAA History:

Florida history in NCAA play<http://www.gatorzone.com/guides/soccer/pages/history/NCAA_soccer.php>





NCAA Field:

Complete bracket<http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/soccer-women/d1>

NCAA Action:
UF is one of 32 programs playing host to 2014 NCAA First Round action this weekend. The tournament schedule for the next four weeks is 1-2-1-2. First round play will be Nov. 14, 15 or 16. The second and third rounds will be conducted next weekend (Nov. 21 and 23) at eight campus sites. NCAA Quarterfinal action will be Nov. 28, 29 or 30 on four campus sites with the Women's College Cup set for Dec. 5-7 at the FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida<http://www.fausports.com/facilities/footballstadium.html>. This is the first Women's College Cup to be held in Boca Raton.

About the Florida Gators:
The Gators are making their 18th NCAA Championships' appearance and this is the team's 12th consecutive. Florida received one of the 33 at-large NCAA berths. In last year's NCAA action, Florida reached the second round, falling 1-0 at Duke.

Florida's Becky Burleigh<http://www.gatorzone.com/guides/soccer/pages/season_info/coaches_bios/burleigh_becky.php> has been the head coach for each of the program's 20 seasons and is one of two women to lead her team to the NCAA title.

Sophomore Savannah Jordan<http://www.gatorzone.com/guides/soccer/pages/season_info/player_bios/Jordan_Savannah.php> leads the Gators with 36 points off of 15 goals and six assists. Her goals total is tied for 20th in the latest NCAA Division I statistics. The Gators' assist leader (9) is senior outside back Tessa Andujar<http://www.gatorzone.com/guides/soccer/pages/season_info/player_bios/andujar_tessa.php>. Senior Havana Solaun<http://www.gatorzone.com/guides/soccer/pages/season_info/player_bios/solaun_havana.php> is second among the Gators in goals (6), assists (8) and points (20). Senior Taylor Burke<http://www.gatorzone.com/guides/soccer/pages/season_info/player_bios/burke_taylor.php> started every match in goal this season and owns a goals-against-average of 0.91.

Five Gators appear on 2014 All-Southeastern Conference teams, including four on the first team. Three Florida players are on the All-SEC first team for the second consecutive year - Jordan, Solaun and defender Christen Westphal<http://www.gatorzone.com/guides/soccer/pages/season_info/player_bios/westphal_christen.php>. Also earning All-SEC first team honors is Andujar. Florida's other center back, junior Claire Falknor<http://www.gatorzone.com/guides/soccer/pages/season_info/player_bios/falknor_claire.php>, appears on the All-SEC second team.

Florida is 7-4 against teams in the 2014 tournament field.

Gators versus NCAA field in 2014

Wins



Losses

Date

Opponent

Result



Date

Opponent

Result

Aug. 24

USF

W, 2-0



Aug. 29

@ Oklahoma

L, 2-1

Aug. 31

@ Oklahoma State

W, 4-0



Sept. 12

@ No. 1 region seed Stanford

L, 1-0 OT

Sept. 5

@ No. 1 region seed Florida State

W, 2-1



Oct. 16

@ No. 3 region seed South Carolina

L, 3-2

Sept. 26

Georgia

W, 2-1



Oct. 19

@ No. 3 region seed Kentucky

L, 2-0

Sept. 28

Missouri

W, 3-1









Oct. 3

@ No. 1 region seed Texas A&M

W, 1-0









Oct. 5

@ Arkansas

W, 3-1











About the Mercer Bears:
The Bears earned a NCAA Championship automatic bid by upsetting top-seeded Samford 2-1 in Sunday's Southern Conference Championship match. Mercer set a school single-season record with its 14 wins in 2014.

Senior Lauren Gassie leads the Bears with 22 points off of nine goals and four assists. Junior goalkeeper Maggie Cropp has started 18 matches in 2014 and owns a GAA of 0.72.

Mercer is making its second NCAA appearance in 2014. Florida and Mercer met in 2010 NCAA Opening Round action, with the Gators taking a 3-0 win.

Team Records:
Florida: 14-4-1, 9-2 SEC
Mercer: 14-5-2, 6-1-2 SoCon

Becky Burleigh Says:
On playing at home:
"We are really excited to be playing at home. We had put together a plan over the weekend which was anticipating that we would be playing at home but we had a backup plan if we were not. So playing at home gives us a couple of advantages. One is obviously being in our own beds and being at our own place. Secondly, it gives us a couple of extra days. I think from that standpoint it gives us a chance to really hunker down on a couple of things we want to work on. - Florida coach Becky Burleigh

On the Gators' large senior class:
"A senior class gives you urgency. And they give that to you throughout the year but I think it becomes more real for them as it gets closer to the postseason. That is something I think we are really going to enjoy seeing from our seniors; their ability to drive this group with their urgency." - Florida coach Becky Burleigh

SEC Representation:
Eight SEC teams received bids - Florida, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina and Texas A&M. That matches the league record of NCAA representatives set in 2011.

The Pac-12 led all leagues with nine advancing to NCAA play. Six from each of the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 Conferences received NCAA berths.

Ticket Information:
NCAA Soccer play will make its first appearance at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium this Sunday. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children (12 and under), students and senior citizens.

The first 200 UF student showing at Gator1 card are admitted free.

Ticket sales begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Gator Ticket Office, located at gate 1 of the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. For more information, contact the UAA Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, ext. 6800 or 1-800-34GATOR, ext. 6800 (state of Florida only)
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.