The spring exhibition season concluded yesterday in Pensacola with games against Mississippi State and LSU. Megan Hinnenkamp played in both games and did not appear limited (to me).
Exhibition format: Two 30-minute halves, running clock (except for injury). Results of game 1: MSU-1, UF-0. Only goal was on a PK with about 5 minutes remaining in 2nd half. Result of game 2: UF-7, LSU-0. My impressions: Offense. UF's style of play hasn't changed: numerous long, direct passes which were lost - resulting in very little possession. UF didn't build from the back at all. (I now suspect that they much be coached not to.) Instead, they depended almost exclusively on breakaways following turnovers. UF wasn't dangerous on set piece plays. MSU was much more controlled and UF only threatened once during a scramble in front of their net. Defense: UF always kept numbers back, even during set plays on offense, and were very physical (which also caused the PK). MSU really couldn't threaten on offense either, even though they possessed the ball for a large majority of the time. UF's defense was mostly steady throughout. LSU was just bad, especially on defense. They were very unsteady with the ball in front of their net and wilted under pressure from UF's forwards, resulting in several turnovers and UF goals. Their GK was rash coming off her line and gave up two empty-net goals. UF's defense and midfielders just absolutely smothered LSU when they had the ball, and UF's forwards were frequently able to break away from LSU defenders and force them into panic sprints toward their own goal.
Gators have an exhibition match hosting FAU tonight at 7 pm, then another exhibition match at USF next Saturday at 5 pm. Season opener is at FSU Thursday August 14 at 7 pm. Two Exhibition Matches Start Gator Soccer’s 2025 Season - Florida Gators
Well, that snuck up on me. Any thoughts on the upcoming season or another growing pain year. I seem to recall we got a couple of talented transfers.
I just found a post on X that said UF beat FAU 1-0. No other details. My expectations are not high for 2025, but I'd love to be served a big helping of crow at some point in the season.
Well here we are sports fans, another athletic school year starts in earnest today. Hoping we can pull the upset, but I just don't see it. Anyway Go Gators! Make me eat my words please.
I somehow actually get the ACC network as part of my Spectrum package. Happy to be watching Gators sports again. Very early in the match, but we’re hanging in there. You’d never know it to listen to these 2 female announcers. If we somehow pull the upset it’ll be bigger than David vs Goliath. The halF asS University announcers actually praise fsu passes that are off target. Go Gators!
Another weather delay with 8:47 remaining in the 1st. FSU leads 1-0. It's just the first game, and the field is wet, but I don't see any difference in play style from last year. I think the defenders are taught to always play the ball long once they gain possession. And, again this year there's no apparent concept with the ball in the final third. FSU's goal came when 3 UF defenders guarded one player on the back post and allowed a runner to take an unchallenged header from close range.
It has been frustrating watching the FSU Match. The blue numbers on the Gator black uniforms make it very difficult to read the jersey number of the player, so I can’t figure out which Florida players are on the field. Plus the two announcers are so bias toward FSU that they, for the most part are only calling out names of and praising FSU players. FSU really has not really been the dominate in the first half. The announcers do not recognize or call out the names of Gator players. It is disappointing that the “Clowns” scored and it is 1-0 going into another weather delay. Go Gators.
Simply brutal performance. I get it, FSU is really good. My question is, how can we be this bad? This used to be a proud and accomplished program. We are not even competitive anymore.
I really thought she was going to be the one to turn things around. But UF appears to know almost nothing about possession or offense. No defense can stand up to that pressure for 90 minutes unless they have an overwhelming athletic advantage.
Another year finishing at or near the bottom of the conference that we dominated for the first 20 years. We fell on hard times 8 years ago and have promptly lost 8 in a row to FSU. Not good.
Ugh, that was fugly. I am no expert on soccer, but I can see when one team is good and the other is bad. I been a supporter of hers, but if we dont make a decent season of this it is time to move on
