It appears the demise of UF’s scoreless streak has been greatly exaggerated.
The Gators’ (4-8-3, 2-3-2 SEC) may have thought their nightmare was over coming off their six-game scoreless streak with strong performances against Kentucky and LSU.
Alabama had other plans.
Florida is in another scoreless streak of four games and counting as the clock ticks hastily towards the end of the season, after a 0-0 tie Sunday against the Crimson Tide (7-7-2, 1-5-1 SEC) at the Alabama Soccer Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
The first half was largely controlled by Alabama, a team that took eight shots to Florida’s three in the first 45 minutes. None of UF’s shots were on goal—midfielder Lais Araujo’s shot went high, and both Melanie Monteagudo and Brittney Bennett’s were blocked by defenders—and UF goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese was forced to save three balls that came her way.
The momentum shifted in the Gators’ favor during the second period. Florida took seven shots to Alabama’s two, three of which were on goal, but UF was still unable to finish its chances. The best chance of the night for either team came in the 78th minute when Bennett had an open-look in front of her in the six-yard box. Her shot sailed harmlessly over the crossbar, however, and the Gators would only take one more shot before regulation ended, and went to overtime for the fourth time this season.
Florida continued taking chances in both overtime periods, outshooting Alabama five shots to three, but both teams were left goalless once the clock hit zero in the second overtime.
With three games left in the season, the Gators are in grave danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002 and the third time since the team’s inception in 1995. Florida will attempt to make the most of what it has left as it returns to Gainesville to face off against the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
The team will also be left without Monteagudo on Thursday as she received a red card in the second overtime and will be forced to sit out.
Follow River Wells on Twitter @riverhwells or contact him at rwells@alligator.org.
Florida goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese saved three shots in the first half of UF’s 0-0 tie against Alabama on Sunday.
