The No. 10 University of Florida soccer team opens its Southeastern Conference schedule by playing host to Kentucky Friday at 7 p.m. in the James G. Pressly Stadium.
Florida’s opening weekend of SEC play has the Gators facing two teams, Kentucky and Vanderbilt (Sunday at 2 p.m.) that gave them fits in 2008. The Gators (6-3) trailed Kentucky 2-0 but rallied for a 3-2 double-overtime victory on a golden goal by Lindsay Thompson. Sunday afternoon foe Vanderbilt played it close last season before falling 4-3 in overtime on Jessica Eicken’s header.
Both Florida and Kentucky are coming off wins after losing or tying in last Friday’s action. The Gators lost 1-0 in overtime to No. 5 Florida State last Friday night. It was the first overtime in the 17-match series between the two teams. In the non-conference season finale Sunday, Florida routed Eastern Kentucky, 5-1. Freshmen Natalia Torosian and Brooke Thigpen each had two goals each in the Sunday victory.
The Wildcats (3-2-3) opened last weekend with a 0-0 double-overtime tie with Western Kentucky. UK bounced back with a 3-0 win Sunday over Tennessee Tech. Sophomore Jenna Goblirsch leads UK in points with two goals and one assist for five points.
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
East Conf. Div. All
South Carolina 0-0-0 0-0-0 8-0-0
Georgia 0-0-0 0-0-0 7-0-1
Vanderbilt 0-0-0 0-0-0 6-1-1
Florida 0-0-0 0-0-0 6-3-0
Tennessee 0-0-0 0-0-0 4-3-1
Kentucky 0-0-0 0-0-0 3-2-3
West Conf. Div. All
Mississippi State 0-0-0 0-0-0 8-0-0
Arkansas 0-0-0 0-0-0 6-0-2
Mississippi 0-0-0 0-0-0 6-2-0
Louisiana State 0-0-0 0-0-0 4-2-2
Alabama 0-0-0 0-0-0 4-3-0
Auburn 0-0-0 0-0-0 3-2-3
Friday, Sept. 25
Kentucky at Florida, 7 p.m.
Vanderbilt at South Carolina, 7 p.m. (FSS)
Tennessee at Arkansas, 8 p.m.
Georgia at Louisiana State, 8 p.m.
Alabama at Mississippi, 8 p.m.
Auburn at Mississippi State, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 27
Kentucky at South Carolina, 1:30 p.m.
Vanderbilt at Florida, 2 p.m. (CSS)
Georgia at Arkansas, 2 p.m.
Alabama at Mississippi State, 2 p.m.
Tennessee at Louisiana State, 2 p.m.
Auburn at Mississippi, 3 p.m. (ESPNU)
NSCAA/ADIDAS DIVISION I COACHES POLL
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division I soccer poll for Sept. 22 as sponsored by adidas:
Rank/School W-L-T Points Prev
1. North Carolina (17) 7-0-1 809 1
2. Stanford (16) 9-0-0 808 3
3. UCLA 6-1-1 732 4
4. Portland 8-1-0 729 2
5. Florida State 7-1-0 702 5
6. Boston College 8-0-0 649 6
7. Wake Forest 8-1-0 575 8
8. California 6-1-0 562 9
9. Santa Clara 7-2-0 502 12
10. Florida 6-3-0 501 7
11. Virginia 5-1-2 463 10
12. South Carolina 8-0-0 438 13
13. Texas A&M 5-3-0 425 17
14. Notre Dame 5-3-0 404 14
15. Purdue 5-2-1 347 11
16. Georgia 7-0-1 338 15
17. Rutgers 7-1-1 329 16
18. Maryland 8-0-0 305 20
19. Indiana 8-1-0 220 22
20. Kansas 7-1-1 171 RV
21. Ohio State 7-1-1 147 25
22. UCF 5-2-1 136 19
23. St. John’s 7-1-0 111 RV
24. San Diego 6-3-1 39 18
25. Connecticut 6-2-0 35 RV
Others: Oklahoma State 28, Michigan State 28, Washington State 25, Georgetown 24, Illinois 23, Arizona State 23, Marquette 18, Brigham Young 16, Washington 14, Denver 4, West Virginia 4, Pepperdine 4, Charlotte 4, William & Mary 3, Oregon State 3, Villanova 2, Nebraska 1, North Carolina-Greensboro 1.