For the first time since 2021, the Florida Gators soccer team took the field at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola for its SEC Tournament opener against the Kentucky Wildcats.
The last time they met on Oct. 2, both teams left with a 1-1 tie. But this time, only one team could emerge victorious and move on to the quarterfinals.
With less than ten minutes remaining and down 1-0, the Gators had limited time to save their 2025 season. Freshman midfielder Sophia Sindelar earned a chance to tie at minute 82, but her game-leading fourth shot of the match missed to the left.
Florida earned two corners with less than five minutes remaining, but failed to generate a goal, as Kentucky’s defense stood tall to finish the match.
The No. 11-seeded Gators (6-6-5, 2-3-5 SEC) fell short 1-0 Sunday evening, as the No. 6-seeded Wildcats (11-4-3, 5-2-3 SEC) advanced to the next round of the tournament.
It was a strong performance from both defenses, as there were only 14 total shots, with just two on goal.
It took just 10 minutes for Kentucky to get on the board first. Sophomore forward Kendall Campbell dribbled on the right side of the field and found senior midfielder Catherine Rapp in front of the net. Rapp converted to the middle of the net to put the Wildcats up 1-0 early.
Kentucky sophomore forward Alexis Tylenda had an opportunity to extend the lead at minute 19, but her shot found the arms of UF redshirt sophomore goalie Paloma Peña, who finished with one save.
Nine minutes later, Florida earned an opportune look from Sindelar, but she fired over the top crossbar. UK sophomore midfielder Sydni Fink responded at the 37-minute mark, but her shot suffered the same fate, as she launched the ball over the net.
Neither team earned a shot attempt until there were four seconds left in the half. But, UF redshirt sophomore midfielder Megan Hinnenkamp fired to the left of the goal, sending the Gators into halftime down a goal.
Sindelar earned another chance at minute 50, but she once again missed out top. UF forward Kai Tsakiris generated a look ten minutes later, but the All-SEC freshman couldn’t convert as she missed wide right.
Sindelar earned her third chance at the 66-minute mark, but she was off target to the left.
Florida’s defense put up a valiant effort, conceding zero Wildcat shots in the second half. However, the Gators’ offense went stagnant, as Sindelar’s final two shots were the only chances they earned in the last 29 minutes of action.
Kentucky’s defense stood strong, holding on for the 1-0 win to advance to the quarterfinals, where they will take on the No. 3-seeded Georgia Bulldogs.
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.
