Every season, a bittersweet occasion arrives: Senior Night. For Florida soccer, that celebration comes early in the 2026 campaign as the Gators host Youngstown State Thursday.
Florida will honor 10 seniors in its 2026 class: goalkeepers Jayden Emmanuel and Paris Bice; attackers Kyra Taylor, Zoe Main, Kelsey Smith, Montalene Dymond and Lena Bailey; midfielder Emma Duval; and defenders Avery Upton and Hannah Jibril.
“It’s a special night where we want to honor them and celebrate them,” head coach Nick Zimmerman said. “They’ve all meant a tremendous amount to this program and are just incredible human beings. What better way to celebrate them than to go out and put together a performance they can remember and be proud of?”
The occasion is particularly meaningful for Bailey, Bice, Emmanuel and Upton, who have spent their entire collegiate careers in Gainesville. The other six seniors joined the program via the transfer portal, with Taylor, Main and Jibril following Zimmerman from Mississippi State.
Before the festivities can begin, Florida must focus on the task at hand as Youngstown State will look to play spoiler on Senior Night.
The Penguins’ 0-4-1 record does not tell the full story. Youngstown State opened the season with a 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh before earning its first result in a 1-1 draw against Kent State on Aug 20.
“The record doesn’t really reflect how they’re playing,” Zimmerman said. “It’s an older group, obviously very physical and extremely diligent and intentional with what they try to do. They’re going to go forward at times, and they’re going to create problems.”
Youngstown State’s expected-goals numbers show the Penguins have created more scoring opportunities than their opponents but have struggled to capitalize on those chances, Zimmerman said.
Senior Sara Felder leads the Penguins’ attack. The 2025 All-Horizon League Third Team selection has recorded 12 shots this season, including one goal. Last season, she led the team with eight goals and added three assists.
Fellow attacker Kamryn Rosa complements Felder up top. Rosa became the first Penguin to be named Horizon League Freshman of the Year after scoring six goals in conference play.
Youngstown State is led by Rich Wall in his second season. In his first, Wall led the Penguins to their best-ever record in Horizon League play, with six wins and a third-place finish in the conference. The Penguins also set program records for goals scored (19), assists (14), points (52) and team points (20).
Thursday’s match will mark the beginning of a Florida road trip for Youngstown State. After facing UF, the Penguins will travel south for a Sunday matchup against the South Florida Bulls.
For Florida, the key to getting back in the win column starts up front. In the 1-1 draw against Florida Atlantic, the Gators recorded 18 shots, including 11 on goal. FAU goalkeeper Ashley Small held strong with 10 saves, leaving the Gators with a sour taste.
That attack runs through the senior roommate duo of Main and Taylor. The pair has combined for six goals and 19 of Florida’s 50 shots. Their relationship formed during Zimmerman’s first season at Mississippi State.
Following the victory over Jacksonville on Aug. 27, Main implied that playing alongside Taylor can feel almost telepathic.
“We’re working together all the time, and I think it really shows on the field,” Main said. “I feel like we just know what the other is going to do, and it’s just fun.”
The Gators also have been excellent at home, posting a perfect 3-0 record while outscoring their opponents 12-3. However, Florida has struggled on the road, with a 4-3 defeat against UCF in the season opener and a draw against FAU Sunday.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium with Senior Night festivities following the match.
Contact Zach Moore at zmoore@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @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.
