After a blowout loss to Miami to begin the season, Florida traveled to Chapel Hill, N.C., to play No. 14 North Carolina.
In nine matches against the Tar Heels, the Gators were 1-8, the lone victory coming in 1998. In those nine matches, the Gators were outscored 26-3.
That goal total won’t change after Friday night’s matchup. The Gators and Tar Heels played for 110 minutes, but neither team was able to score and the match ended in a 0-0 draw after two overtime periods.
“It was a good step forward after [last Friday’s 4-1 loss to Miami],” coach Becky Burleigh said. “I think we were disappointed with the tie.”
Both teams had several opportunities to score, but neither side was able to convert.
In the 27th minute, North Carolina lined up for a free kick. Florida had trouble defending set pieces against Miami, surrendering three goals off of them.
Marina Nesic took the free kick for the Tar Heels and fired the ball into the box, where it deflected off one UNC player and into the feet of Amber Brooks, who shot the ball at an open net, only to have it bounce off the post and out of bounds.
North Carolina had 17 set pieces in the game, and Florida was able to prevent them from scoring on all of them.
“I think we improved in critical areas like dealing with set pieces,” Burleigh said. “They had quite a few corners and we did a better job not giving up opportunities from that.”
Close to the end of the first overtime period, North Carolina had its best chance to score.
With less than a minute left in the period and a goal away from winning the match, Tar Heel midfielder Meg Morris sent the ball into the box, Maria Lubrano got to it, and she put it past Florida goalkeeper Taylor Burke.
However, just prior to Lubrano’s shot, the referee ruled her offside. The Gators had been saved by the flag.
“I didn’t get too excited about that, I didn’t think that was a goal,” Burleigh said. “I saw [the referee] whistle right away, and I knew he wasn’t whistling for a goal. I kind of figured he was calling something.”
The Gators had their share of opportunities as well.
With about five minutes left in the match, senior forward Erika Tymrak was able to dribble past several North Carolina defenders and fight her way into the penalty box, but her shot was deflected as she was dragged to the ground.
“I had a few defenders on me, and I kind of got pulled down,” Tymrak said. “I thought that if I touched it past her I could get a shot off. I went to shoot and it was blocked. I kind of got pushed around in the box, but that’s soccer.”
The Gators haven’t played a double overtime match since 2010, but they have no time to rest. The Gators take on No. 2 Duke on Sunday.
“We train a lot in practice for double overtime,” Tymrak said. “I don’t think it’s going to affect us at all.”
