After 17 days away from home, Florida soccer is finally back at Donald R. Dizney Stadium, and the Gators have every reason to be excited to make their return.
Florida has excelled at home with a 4-1 record, while it has yet to win an away match this season.
“We’re excited to be at home for the first time in conference play,” head coach Nick Zimmerman said. “I think we were one of a few schools where their first two SEC games were on the road.”
Following a 1-0 loss at South Carolina on Sept. 10 and a comeback 2-2 draw at Mississippi State on Friday, the Gators sit in 11th place in the Southeastern Conference standings. Next up is a date with the Texas Longhorns (5-2-2).
Like Florida, Texas has a first-year head coach in Margueritte Bates. During her four-year tenure at UCLA, Bates led the Bruins to a 67-13-9 record, the fourth-best mark of any program during that span.
In her first season, Bates accomplished a rare feat by leading UCLA to a national championship. She guided the Bruins to a 17-2 regular-season record and was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year.
Bates has also helped produce professional talent. During her tenure, the Bruins coached 22 professional players. Perhaps the most successful player to play under Bates is Boston Legacy defender Lilly Reale.
Reale graduated from UCLA in 2024 and, one year later, was called up to the U.S. Women’s National Team. She began her National Women’s Soccer League career with Gotham FC, winning the NWSL championship and being named NWSL Rookie of the Year.
Now, Bates faces the challenge of SEC play. The Longhorns were riding momentum heading into the conference stretch after upsetting then-No. 19 TCU, 1-0. Sophomore forward Ava McDonald scored the winning goal and has been a major piece of Texas’ attack.
The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year has recorded three goals this season while assisting on two others. She leads the Longhorns with 14 shots on goal.
Sophomore Mya Brandon is the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week, despite playing as part of the Longhorns’ defensive unit.
Brandon scored a goal and assisted on another, in Texas’ 2-2 draw against No. 8 Tennessee on Wednesday.
Throughout the last three matches, the Gators have found themselves chasing the game after conceding first-half goals in each contest.
Florida has found the back of the net in the first 45 minutes in all four of its victories, making an early goal a major key if the Gators wish to secure their first conference win.
Expect senior forward Kyra Taylor to make her presence known early. Taylor scored the equalizer against Mississippi State and has proven to be the engine of Florida’s attack.
Supporting the high press is the midfield, led by players such as sophomore Tatum Borman and freshman Iori Watanabe. Zimmerman has credited the duo’s work ethic and selflessness for winning the ball and getting it to Florida’s attackers.
“The SEC is a gauntlet, every game matters, and every game presents different challenges.” Zimmerman said. “We're excited about getting out there and continuing to learn and grow together.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
Contact Zach Moore at zmoore@alligator.org. Follow him on X @zach_moore27.
Zach is a junior sports journalism student in his third semester at The Alligator. He currently covers soccer for the Fall 2026 season after previously serving as the softball reporter. Zach also has experience as a play-by-play broadcaster in the Florida Collegiate Summer League for the Winter Garden Squeeze. In his free time, Zach enjoys going to the gym and watching sports, especially his favorite teams: the Minnesota Vikings, Arsenal FC, Houston Astros, Orlando Magic and Orlando City SC. A fun fact about Zach is that he is also an avid WWE fan.
