No. 14 Florida dropped No. 20 Colorado 3-1 Sunday in a game more lopsided than the score indicates.
The Gators (5-2-0), who defeated Duke 2-1 Friday night, played with conviction from the kickoff, putting the Buffaloes (4-3-0) on their heels with constant pressure.
"When we push the pace, we're generally a better team," coach Becky Burleigh said.
UF's first scoring opportunity came in the 11th minute when Angela Napolitano turned on CU defender Kelly Ross from the left wing.
But instead of shooting, Napolitano dribbled forward and tried to set up Lindsay Thompson for an easier shot, only to have Thompson whistled offside.
This surely was troublesome for midfielder Tahnai Annis, who suggested last week that Florida had been too hesitant to take shots.
However, UF continued to control the tempo, and constant pressure led to a goal in the 41st minute.
Holly King took a throw-in from Jazmyne Avant near the right touchline and ripped the ball into the upper-left corner of the net to give Florida a 1-0 lead.
Any confidence the Buffaloes had was gone by the beginning of the second half.
On a counterattack in the 48th minute, Erika Tymrak passed to Brooke Thigpen, who was streaking near the left touchline. Thigpen crossed the ball back to Tymrak at the top of the penalty box, and Tymrak put the ball right on CU goalkeeper Kara Linder.
Linder appeared to record the save, but then bobbled the ball and watched helplessly as it snuck into the back of the net.
"That's the second time we've (scored on a mishandled ball) this season. …It's a tribute to our team putting so much pressure on (the goalie)," goalkeeper Katie Fraine said.
A wet ball no doubt contributed to Linder's miscue, as rain drenched the field in the first half, and CU's disappointment was palpable when players hung their heads.
That could be why Colorado gift-wrapped an easy opportunity for Thompson in the 54th minute, when a Buffaloes player mishit a header, bouncing the ball into Colorado territory.
Thompson tracked the ball down and dribbled unmarked inside the penalty box before beating Linder to the goalkeeper's right from 15 yards out.
CU momentarily took control of the game in the 27th minute, when the Buffaloes pressured Fraine with a few shots on goal.
Colorado's short flurry began when Kelly Butler took a free kick on the right side of the field from 22 yards away. Butler crossed the ball to the goal area, hoping to put it on a Colorado player's head, but Fraine leaped in the air to snag it.
A minute later, Colorado had a similar opportunity and again crossed the ball. This time, Fraine mishandled it and gave Colorado an open net.
The Buffaloes tapped the ball in, only to have the goal waved off because a player was offside.
With the game firmly in hand, Burleigh brought less-experienced players in, including goalkeeper Kendall Graham for Fraine.
The shutout initiated by Fraine was spoiled in the 80th minute when Kate Russell drilled a free kick from 32 yards away. Graham appeared to make the save, but as she dove, the ball bounced off her hands and found the goal.
