In last season’s Southeastern Conference Tournament final, Auburn dashed Florida’s hopes with a 3-2 upset of the fourth-seeded Gators.
The tables were turned this year as top-seeded Florida (17-4-1, 11-2 SEC) cruised to a 3-0 victory against Auburn (12-10-1, 7-6 SEC) to clinch the program’s 10th SEC Tournament title.
“It was definitely some good redemption for us,” sophomore midfielder Havana Solaun said. “After last year, losing in the finals, we kind of wanted to come back. … Winning the tournament was a goal, and I think that having a rematch against them was just extra icing on the cake.”
The decisive goal came early in the match when junior Adriana Leon sent in a low shot that snuck past Tigers goalkeeper Amy Howard.
The goal was Leon’s second game-winner against Auburn this season. She scored a golden goal in the 100th minute of the Gators’ 2-1 win on Sept. 16.
Just four minutes later, Florida added a second score. Senior midfielder Erika Tymrak received a pass from Solaun, who had sprinted past two Auburn defenders, and fired a shot to the near post from 20 yards out. The goal was Tymrak’s eighth of the season and third in the tournament.
Tymrak nearly added a second goal in the 58th minute, when she took a shot that bounced off a Tigers player. The ball ricocheted past Howard and rolled toward the line. At the last moment, an Auburn defender kicked it out to save the goal.
“Of course I thought it went in, but the referee didn’t,” Tymrak said.
Tymrak and Solaun combined again to produce the game’s final goal in the 70th minute.
Tymrak had the ball at the top of the box when Solaun ran around the edge of the defenders. Tymrak dribbled back and sent a pass to Solaun, who drilled in a shot from the corner.
“That was pretty sweet,” coach Becky Burleigh said. “That’s stuff we work on all the time. It’s so nice to see it come to fruition in a game.”
Tymrak was named the SEC Tournament MVP. In three games, she scored three goals and registered three assists.
“It feels awesome,” Tymrak said.
Auburn midfielder Ana Cate scored the game-winning goal in the 2011 matchup, but she received recognition for another reason on Sunday.
Cate recorded several fouls in the game, but the most significant came in 53rd minute, when she and senior Jo Dragotta jumped for a bouncing ball. Cate elbowed Dragotta in the head, and Dragotta fell to the ground. She did not get up for several minutes. Dragotta left the field wearing a neck brace and did not return to the game.
Burleigh said Dragotta would be evaluated after being pulled for precautionary reasons.
“Any time you get hit in the head, it’s something to be a little bit concerned about,” Burleigh said.
Florida’s women’s soccer team celebrates after winning the SEC Tournament with a 3-0 victory in the final against Auburn on Sunday at the Orange Beach Sportsplex in Orange Beach, Ala.
