After 266 minutes of knocking, the UF soccer team finally broke through and scored a first half goal.
It may not be a surprise that it came at home, where the Gators pushed their record to 3-0 after their 2-1 win over Duke on Friday night.
As the first half wound down, UF goalkeeper Katie Fraine punted the ball and Brooke Thigpen headed the ball to Tahnai Annis who in turn headed it over the Duke defense to midfielder Lindsay Thompson whose 5-yard shot trickled in just inside the left post in the 42nd minute.
The game marked an offensive change where Thompson, who had previously filled in as the sole forward in place of the injured Ashlee Elliott, saw time at midfield - her familiar position.
"I was able to roam around a little bit more in the midfield, and I liked that," Thompson said.
UF coach Becky Burleigh said the forward position is interchangeable.
For now, the plan seems to be to rotate players including Thompson, Thigpen, freshman Erika Tymrak, McKenzie Barney and anybody else that plays midfield.
The goal put the Gators up 1-0 - it was thieir first goal in the first half of a game this season.
The celebration was short lived as the Blue Devils answered with a goal of their own when Chelsea Canepa scored unassisted on a 25-yarder through traffic two minutes after UF's first score.
Unlike the offensive struggles that plagued UF on its road trip, which resulted in one goal and three shots on goal in over 180 minutes of play; the Gators on Friday night came out with renewed vigor.
UF had 11 shots on goal versus three for the Blue Devils.
Duke goalkeeper Tara Campbell had nine saves and despite some of the highlight-reel stops, she allowed a second goal in the 63rd minute.
Defender Kayla Bala crossed the ball to Thigpen within the keepers' box, and Thigpen scored from 6 yards out.
This time Duke was unable to return the favor.
The Gator defense stiffened with the lead and quelled any attempt at a tie.
"What I'm most happy with was just our team's physical effort," Burleigh said.
UF hosts Colorado on Sunday at noon and will look to extend its unbeaten home record.
