After tying its 2024 season win total last week, the Gators soccer team suffered two consecutive losses for the first time this season, including its first SEC match.
Down 3-0 in the second half, Florida began to rally behind two penalty kick goals from freshman forward Kai Tsakiris and redshirt junior Madison Jones. With a minute left down a goal, the Gators had one more chance to tie the game.
However, the final shot from redshirt freshman Addy Hess was off target, causing Florida (4-0-4, 0-1) to fall 3-2 against No. 9 Arkansas (3-2-2, 1-0) Thursday night at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
“I believe in this group,” head coach Samantha Bohon said. “I think that they can do some really special things this year. We just have to put 90 minutes together and not 45.”
It took just three minutes for the Razorbacks to strike first. Freshman midfielder Nuria Craig found junior midfielder Kennedy Ball in front of the goal, firing a shot to the top right of the net to gain a quick 1-0 advantage.
Sustained offense was hard to come by for the Gators tonight, as they didn’t get their first shot attempt until the 15-minute mark. The try by freshman midfielder Sophia Sindelar flew over the top crossbar.
Arkansas had an opportune look to extend its lead at minute 17 off a corner attempt, but Craig’s shot traveled over the net. They had another chance eight minutes later, but senior midfielder Zoe Susi’s shot bounced off the crossbar.
UF redshirt senior midfielder Charlotte McClure responded just a minute later with an attempt beyond the box, but she fired right to the chest of Arkansas sophomore goalkeeper Keegan Smith, who finished the match with three saves.
At minute 32, Razorbacks midfielder Vailana Tu’ua fired at the goal, but the shot was saved by Florida redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Paloma Peña, who finished with two saves.
Once again, Florida responded quickly, with a shot by senior forward Njeri Butts at minute 33; however, the attempt missed just wide to the right of the net.
The Razorbacks wasted no time, as they scored twice more in the span of one minute. Tu’ua scored both goals, giving Arkansas a 3-0 advantage heading into halftime.
“We’re really disappointed in the quality of goals we gave up in the first half,” Bohon said. “You just can’t make it easier for them.”
Coming out of the half, Florida needed a spark, and Tsakiris stepped into the light.
After getting fouled in front of the net at minute 47, Tsakiris had the chance to put the Gators on the board with a penalty kick. She answered the call, drilling the ball into the bottom right of the net to cut the Arkansas lead to two goals.
The chances for the Gators started rolling, with three corner attempts in the span of three minutes. However, the Razorback defense stood firm, clearing the ball each time.
For the next 13 minutes, both teams upped the physicality. The Gators’ defense strengthened in the second half, only allowing one shot attempt.
Another promising chance arose for Florida. At minute 68, another penalty was called on Arkansas during a corner attempt for the Gators. UF redshirt junior midfielder Madison Jones took the kick and found the back of the net, making it a 3-2 match.
Florida had an open chance to tie the game at the 74-minute mark. Freshman forward Katie Johnston dribbled in front of the net off a pass from sophomore midfielder Addy Lang, but her shot to the bottom center of the net was blocked by Smith.
Arkansas had a chance to extend the lead with eight minutes left, but Kennedy’s shot was blocked on a diving effort from UF sophomore defender Abby Gemma.
With only five minutes remaining, time was running out for a potential tie. The Gators quickly drove down the pitch, desperately trying to tie the game without giving the Razorbacks a chance to respond.
In the final minute, the Gators had one more chance to end the match with a tie instead of a loss.
However, the shot by redshirt freshman forward Addy Hess flew over the top of the goal, shutting the door on what would have been a tremendous comeback.
“Every game is a gauntlet in the SEC, and that’s one of the things we love about it,” Bohon said. “This group is going to learn from this, and I think we’re going to get better for Oklahoma.”
Florida hits the road to face the Oklahoma Sooners (7-0-1) at 4 p.m. Thursday at John Crain Field in Norman, Oklahoma.
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.
