Soccer - The Independent Florida Alligator

Florida center back Kat Williamson has played all 547 minutes of the No. 11 Gators’ last six games.

Sports

Gators looking for help along back line to spell Williamson

By JOHN BOOTHE | Oct. 10, 2011

Kat Williamson could use a breather.

Freshman Annie Speese led the Gators on Sunday with two goals and an assist in the team’s 4-1 win against Alabama at home.

Sports

Speese propels UF soccer to 4-1 victory

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Oct. 9, 2011

The Gators’ leading scorer took a game off from filling the stat sheet Sunday, but their second leading scorer did that and more.

Sports

Barney's golden goal lifts Florida past Auburn

By JOHN BOOTHE | Oct. 7, 2011

There was no

Sports

Breast cancer awareness has special meaning for Florida

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Oct. 6, 2011

Pink hair and pink shirts will stick out amongst the usual orange and blue tonight at Pressly Stadium.

UF midfielder Erika Tymrak and Auburn’s Katy Frierson were the SEC’s lone representatives on the U.S. U23 national team this summer.

Sports

SEC’s top midfielders to square off

By JOHN BOOTHE | Oct. 5, 2011

It has become increasingly clear this season why Florida’s Erika Tymrak and Auburn midfielder Katy Frierson were the Southeastern Conference’s lone representatives on the U.S. U23 national team this summer.

Florida midfielder Erika Tymrak scored a goal off a corner kick against Vanderbilt, one of four goals scored on set pieces this season for the Gators.

Sports

Gators’ revised strategy on set pieces paying dividends

By JOHN BOOTHE | Oct. 4, 2011

With a Southeastern Conference-best 16 players recording a point this season, it was only natural for Florida to find a new way to generate goals last weekend.

After a 4-2 loss to Tennessee on Sept. 25, Gators outside back Jazmyne Avant (right) and the defense responded with two shutout wins during the weekend.

Sports

Defense improves for Gators soccer in shutout wins

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Oct. 3, 2011

After its worst performance of the season, the Gators’ defense knew it had to step up, and it did so in a big way this weekend.

Sports

Barney, Speese spark second half surge for Florida

By JOHN BOOTHE | Oct. 2, 2011

Though McKenzie Barney might be lagging behind her conference-leading scoring pace from a year ago, the Gators’ team captain still has a habit of finding the net when her team needs it the most.

Sports

Early goals allow Gators to cruise past Dores

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Sep. 30, 2011

A week after suffering through two slow starts to open Southeastern Conference play, Florida's offense wasted no time getting to work against Vanderbilt on Friday night.

UF defender Kat Williamson said the undersized field at Pressly Stadium can actually be an advantage for the opposition.

Sports

Florida soccer working on offensive spacing

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Sep. 29, 2011

The Florida offense has had no trouble finding its groove as of late.

Gators sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Burke makes a save against the Tennessee Volunteers during a game in 2011. Burke played the second half in Florida's 3-0 home loss on FSU on Friday night.

Sports

Burke trying to bounce back after rough weekend in goal

By JOHN BOOTHE | Sep. 28, 2011

It’s been a long time since an opposing team has been able to get four goals past Taylor Burke.

Sports

Florida soccer's aggressive style must be mistake-free

By JOHN BOOTHE | Sep. 26, 2011

After gambling with their back line all season long, the Gators’ streak of good luck ended after only one weekend of Southeastern Conference play.

Sports

Gators soccer falls short against Vols

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Sep. 25, 2011

A dominating second-half performance by Florida against Tennessee on Sunday was not enough to overcome an offensively inefficient and mistake-filled first-half effort.

Sports

Tymrak lifts Florida to win in SEC opener

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Sep. 23, 2011

Five days after their largest offensive explosion of the season, the Gators found themselves in a defensive struggle Friday night against the Bulldogs in their Southeastern Conference opener.

Sports

Matchup with Georgia has different meaning for Speese

By JOHN BOOTHE | Sep. 22, 2011

By her junior year of high school, Annie Speese’s road to playing soccer for Georgia was seemingly mapped out.

Maggie Rodgers never played on defense before coming to Florida, but the sophomore is making the switch in order to see more playing time.

Sports

Rodgers seeing increased role after switching to defense

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Sep. 21, 2011

It is a significant accomplishment for a soccer player to surpass her minute total from the previous season in less than seven games.

Gators midfielder McKenzie Barney led the Southeastern Conference with 14 goals last season, but she only has two goals through nine games this year and is playing less than 45 minutes per game.

Sports

No. 6 Gators’ offense features ‘diverse goal-scoring group’

By JOHN BOOTHE | Sep. 20, 2011

Following each of Florida’s nine non-conference games, a video had to be posted online to keep other teams around the Southeastern Conference informed on the Gators’ play.

Sophomore Maggie Rodgers had two assists and the Gators scored a season-high seven goals Sunday.

Sports

Gators rout Jayhawks with scoring barrage

By JOHN BOOTHE | Sep. 18, 2011

With light rain slicking the field in Lawrence, Kan., just before warm-ups, all the Gators had to do Sunday was find an open shot and watch as the Jayhawks let the game slip right through their fingers.

Sports

Speese continues hot streak, lifts Florida soccer over Mizzou

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Sep. 16, 2011

Florida talked all week about getting off to a fast start against Missouri after it experienced a pair hot and cold matches offensively against Florida Gulf Coast and Florida State last weekend.

Midfielder McKenzie Barney said the Gators are focusing on improving their mental approach on offense after a 3-2 loss to FSU on Friday. The team has been working against 12 defenders in practice.

Sports

Gators emphasize improved attack before two-game road trip

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Sep. 15, 2011

As the Gators head west for their second consecutive two-game weekend, they are hoping the trip resembles only the second half of their last pair of outings.