What a difference one week made for the UF soccer team.
Thursday’s game against Kentucky (7-10, 2-5 SEC), previously scheduled to be played at James G. Pressly Stadium at 6 p.m., has been moved as a result of the expected turnout of both supporters and protesters at the Richard Spencer speaking engagement. The match will now be played in Daytona Beach at Embry-Riddle University's soccer field at 5 p.m. Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said he appreciated all parties involved for understanding.
Running in stride with Auburn’s back line, Deanne Rose waited for a pass from teammate Sarah Troccoli. A perfectly weighted ball rolled onto Rose’s right foot as she took two dribbles into the Tigers box.
With a Florida State forward on her back, redshirt senior defender Kristen Cardano made a calm back pass to goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese in the match’s opening minute. Marckese took a touch and then did the one thing a goalkeeper cannot do when a teammate passes her the ball: pick it up.
On Aug. 30, 2015, midfielder Sarah Troccoli started her first collegiate game against a Florida State squad defending its national championship. Thanks in part to a Troccoli assist, Florida found itself up 1-0 and looking to add to its lead.
The Florida soccer team is on an offensive tear.
On a soggy, muggy, overcast afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee, freshman forward Deanne Rose found herself in a familiar position: in possession of the ball with opposing defenders draped all over her.
Mayra Pelayo and Gabby Seiler embraced in exhilaration.
On a chilly Sunday night in Athens, Georgia, the Gators struggled to put balls in the net early. Florida was held to just four shots in the first half. The team’s only solace might have been that Georgia only got off five. Coach Becky Burleigh said she was happy with how her team pressured the Bulldogs’ attack.
Shouts of frustration and disbelief rang throughout the Turner Soccer Complex. Moments earlier, during the 54th minute, Florida junior midfielder Briana Solis saw her free kick deflected into the net by a Georgia defender, breaking the scoreless deadlock and giving Florida the lead.
The Florida soccer team is without a scheduled weekday match for the first time this season, giving it extra time to practice and build chemistry.
Fans were getting impatient Sunday night at James G. Pressly Stadium. Calls of “Come on!” and “Wake up!” began to fill the early evening air as turnovers mounted and fans’ frustrations grew.
Mayra Pelayo squared up an Alabama defender on the right wing and darted toward the end line. She played a cross, trying to pick out one of multiple teammates in the box.
After earning a free kick nearly 45 yards from goal, Texas A&M junior defender Kendall Ritchie stood over the ball and surveyed the field.
Parker Roberts received the ball in space above the Iowa State box six minutes into extra time. After nearly getting the ball stuck under her feet, Roberts peeked upfield in time to pick out the streaking Deanne Rose. Roberts’ perfectly weighted diagonal pass found Rose’s left foot in the box. Rose dinked the ball over the Cyclone keeper and into the back of the net. Golden goal. Game over.
After interconference play took the Gators to Ames, Iowa, UF (7-1) once again finds itself traveling westward as it takes on Texas A&M (4-2-1) on Thursday.
Sophomore transfer Parker Roberts, a former Kansas Jayhawk, knew heading into the weekend that Florida’s road game against Iowa State would present a unique challenge.
Melanie Monteagudo lost her defender with a quick turn towards the goal line. She delivered a cross into the middle of Mississippi box that found Mayra Pelayo’s left foot seven yards from goal. The junior midfielder found the back of the net just five minutes into play, scoring her first goal of the season.
For the No. 7 Gators, tonight’s matchup is a return to normalcy.
After a feverish ending to a matchup with Stanford that saw a barrage of shots and crosses into the Gators box in the final minutes, UF goalie Susi Espinoza had one more obstacle to face: the press.
Solutions by The State News
