Friday night was déjà vu all over again for the Gators, and not in a good way. The No. 6 Gators (10-1-2, 4-0-1 Southeastern Conference) tied Alabama (8-2-2, 3-0-2 SEC) in double overtime after conceding a late goal in the final minute of regulation.
It was the third time this season the Gators held a one-goal lead in the final two minutes of a game but allowed the opponent to score the equalizer.
It was a bruising, physical match that left both teams battered and tired at the end.
The Gators controlled the ball for much of the first half, but they failed to pressure Alabama’s goalie, Justine Bernier. She leads the SEC in save percentage, just ahead of Florida’s goalie, Katie Fraine.
“It was a pretty physical match and we had plenty of chances,” coach Becky Burleigh said. “You have to credit the Alabama defense for keeping us out of the back of the net more than once.”
But in the opening minute of the second half (46th minute), the Gators charged out to a 1-0 lead off a beautiful set-up by Taylor Travis. The freshman forward did a nifty move along the right flank, and then sent a pass across the front of the box to Erika Tymrak, who blasted a shot that deflected off forward Tahnai Annis right to Travis, who collected the ball and sent it right back to Annis.
Annis finished the ball past Alabama’s diving keeper for her eighth goal of the season.
“We knew it was a new half and we had been taking it to them all [first] half,” Annis said. “We had a lot of motivation and wanted to get a goal quick and we did.”
The Gators held the lead for the rest of the second half until the Crimson Tide scored off a misplayed corner kick. In the 89th minute the Gators were victimized by a missed clearance that allowed Alabama’s Brooke Rodgers to score the equalizer less than five yards away from goal.
“It was frustrating to give up the late goal,” Burleigh said. “When something like that happens, it is a done deal. There is nothing that can be done about it. I thought we were a little frustrated going into the overtime because we didn’t quite put it behind us. We need to learn from this.”
Annis concurred, saying, “It was hard for some of us to move past what had happened and put it behind us. Obviously we need everyone on the same page and it was a learning experience that we need everyone to be on the same page no matter if something doesn’t go our way we still need to come together as a team and get the job done.”
