A four-minute blitz early in the first half Friday night sent the No. 6 Florida women’s soccer team on its way to a 7-1 victory over Mississippi State at the James G. Pressly Stadium, the Gators’ first home match in 28 days.
Donning pink tie-dye shirts on “Kicking for the Cure” to breast cancer in pregame warmups, the Gators thrilled the 1,347 fans on hand.
“What is it not like playing here?” said redshirt sophomore McKenzie Barney. “It’s such an honor to put on a show for (the fans). Love making them cheer.”
The seven goals scored are the most this season and is the highest offensive output since UF also scored seven versus Jacksonville in 2006. Florida peppered the Bulldogs with 31 shots.
“Good teams are relentless,” said Florida coach Becky Burleigh, whose team plays host to Mississippi (5-6-1, 1-2-0 SEC) Sunday at 1:30 p.m at Pressly Stadium. “That’s what we keep preaching – we want to be a relentless team and continue to go after it, regardless of the score.”
The Gators got two goals each from Lindsay Thompson and Tahnai, who also had an assist. Erika Tymrak, meanwhile, had a four-point night (1 goal, 3 assists).
In the seventh minute of the game, Taylor Travis, the SEC freshman player of the week, took a pass from Barney but failed to convert. The ball moved over to Erika Tymrak, but Mississippi State goalie Skylar Rosson made the save.
After the clock ticked past nine minutes, however, the Gators used the next 240 seconds to build up a 3-0 lead on five shots.
In the 10th minute, Travis found an open Nicky Kit speeding down the left side. Barney was open at the keeper’s box but Kit dummied the ball and let it drift to Tymrak who was waiting in the box. It was Tymrak’s third goal of the season and second consecutive Friday night match with a goal.
In the 13th minute, Tahnai Annis shook her defender and attempted a shot that was deflected right into Barney’s eager feet. Barney chipped it in for her eighth goal this season. She also set the UF record for consecutive home appearances with a goal (eight).
In the 14th minute, Annis was fed the ball by Tymrak and snuck the ball past Rosson’s outstretched hands from 10 yards out for a 3-0 Florida lead.
In the 23rd minute MSU’s Elisabeth Sullivan attempted a penalty kick — the first against Florida this season. Florida goalie Katie Fraine dove to her left and deflected the shot but Mississippi State’s Kim Pettit pounced on the rebound and just did beat Fraine to the far post.
“It was a great save by Katie,” Burleigh continued. “I was disappointed that she gave up a goal there, because it was a terrific save. We practice PKs all the time.”
In the 45th minute, Sullivan attempted a 23-yard lob shot aimed at the highest point of the net that Fraine punched out.
Florida kept its foot on the gas and scored four goals in the second half.
The Gators poured on a pair of goals in another quick offensive burst to start the second period. Freshman Caroline Triglia scored her first collegiate goal in the 49th minute with a left-to-right blast from 7 yards out.
In the 50th minute, Lindsay Thompson headed in a feed from Tymrak. It was Tymrak’s third assist in the match and second consecutively. Kit was also credited with the assist.
In the 68th minute, Jo Dragotta missed a shot off the left post, but Thompson chipped in the rebound from 5 yards out for her second goal of the match and third multi-goal effort at Florida.
Annis added her second goal of the match in the 89th minute on a Haley Reeb assist to make it 7-1. She also scored twice in the Gators’ 2-0 win at No. 25 UCF in the opening weekend of the season and now has three double-goal matches as a Gator.
FLORIDA 7, MISSISSIPPI STATE 1
Friday, Oct. 1, 2010 / James G. Pressly Stadium / Gainesville, Fla.
Scoring by periods
1 2—Total
Mississippi State 1 0—1
Florida 3 4—7
Goals
UF: Erika Tymark (Nicky Kit, Taylor Travis) 9:42
UF: McKenzie Barney (Tahnai Annis) 12:07
UF: Annis (Tymark) 13:38
MSU: Kim Pettit 22:43
UF: Caroline Triglia (Tymark) 48:11
UF: Lindsay Thompson (Kit, Tymark) 49:38
UF: Thompson (Jo Dragotta) 67:40
UF: Annis (Haley Reeb) 88:21
Goalkeepers
Min Svs GA
Skylar Rosson (MSU) 60:26 8 5
Abby Risner (MSU) 29:34 4 2
Katie Fraine (UF) 52:32 3 1
Brooke Chancey (UF) 37:28 2 0
STATISTICS MSU UF
Shots 8 31
Shots on goal 6 19
Saves 12 5
Corner kicks 5 10
Fouls 4 9
Offside 1 0
Records: Mississippi State (7-5, 0-3 SEC), Florida (9-1-1, 3-0 SEC).