After claiming its first conference victory against Texas on Sunday, the Florida Gators soccer team took the pitch at Donald R. Dizney Stadium looking to upset the No. 12 Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Tied 1-1 just four minutes into the second half, redshirt freshman forward Addy Hess fired straight to Mississippi State sophomore goalie Sarah Wommack. However, the ball bounced back to Hess, who converted to make it a 2-1 Gators advantage.
“We’ve been on the edge of winning games,” Hess said. “It’s such a special feeling for this team because we worked so hard for it.”
Florida (6-3-5, 2-3-2 SEC) defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs (9-1-3, 4-1-2 SEC) 2-1 for its first ranked win of the season. It was a bittersweet victory, as four of Florida’s seniors — forwards Tatum O’Coyne and Njeri Butts, defender Lauren McCloskey and midfielder Charlotte McClure — were honored for senior night.
With the offense struggling to generate chances, Florida was in dire need of a spark. Enter freshman forward Sophia Sindelar. At minute 39, freshman forward Kai Tsakiris dribbled at the back line and found freshman forward Sophia Sindelar in front of the net, who shot the ball into the bottom center of the goal to tie the game 1-1.
“I just saw a little window of space,” Sindelar said. “That felt really good to get us back on the board.”
With just five minutes remaining and down 2-1, the Bulldogs were on the prowl, looking for the shot to tie the game.
Junior midfielder Alivia Buxton dribbled outside the box and fired to the bottom right of the goal, but UF redshirt sophomore goalie Paloma Peña stretched out and saved the ball with her right foot, securing Florida’s second straight SEC victory.
“I’m not surprised we’re finding ways to win,” said head coach Samantha Bohon. “It was wonderful to see.”
Florida’s offense struggled immensely to start the match, as it didn’t earn a shot attempt until the 38-minute mark. Sophomore defender Abby Gemma attempted a header off a corner kick, but her shot was blocked by Wommack, who finished with four saves.
The Bulldogs earned the first shot of the game just one minute in, but junior forward Zoe Main fired to the left post.
However, Main just needed one more chance to put Mississippi State on the board first. At minute 17, she fired off her left foot, rolling the ball past Peña to make it a 1-0 match.
The Bulldogs had a chance to extend their lead at the 27-minute mark, but freshman midfielder Adia Symmonds fired to the chest of Peña, who finished with five saves.
Neither team earned another chance for the rest of the half. Despite the slow start offensively for Florida, both sides went into halftime even at a goal apiece.
The Bulldogs had an opportune look just a minute into the second half, but redshirt freshman midfielder Charlotte Grim launched the ball over the crossbar.
UF sophomore defender Skye Barnes responded with a shot of her own, but her shot was saved by Wommack.
But, the Gators just needed another chance, as Hess’s goal broke the tie just minutes into the second half of play.
Tensions were high in the second half, as MSU senior midfielder Ally Perry and McClure were both issued red cards for fighting at minute 56.
The Bulldogs had an opportunity to tie the match at minute 77, but Peña dove to save the shot from Symmonds.
Florida conceded seven shots in the second half, but stout defense and impressive saves from Peña were enough to maintain the Gators’ lead as the clock hit zero.
“We really just want our players to experience some of the benefits of the work that they put in for so many years,” Bohon said. “It was really fitting that it comes tonight on senior night.”
The Gators will take on the Tennessee Lady Volunteers (11-2-1, 5-1-1 SEC) in Knoxville, Tennessee, at Regal Soccer Stadium Thursday at 7 p.m.
Contact Adrian Carmona at acarmona@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @abcarmona04.
Adrian is a senior journalism major and the soccer reporter for Fall 2025. He enjoys playing Sporcle quizzes and ranting about South Florida sports.
