Gainesville, UF soccer community reacts to Lionel Messi’s move to U.S.
By Brandon Hernandez | July 17Lionel Messi was introduced in Miami July 16 as he prepares to join Major League Soccer club Inter Miami this season.
Lionel Messi was introduced in Miami July 16 as he prepares to join Major League Soccer club Inter Miami this season.
Florida soccer players Sophie White and Oakley Rasmussen grew up playing with and against each other in Utah. Now, they support each other on and off the field in Gainesville.
Midfielders Cameron Hall and Syd Kennedy, forwards Kouri Peace and Alivia Gonzalez and goalkeeper Francesca Faraci each come from different backgrounds, but have formed tight-knit bonds and learned to lean on each other through adversity.
The Texas A&M Aggies defeated the Florida Gators 4-1 Thursday night. The Aggies outshot the Gators 15 shots to nine. Florida head coach Samantha Bohon finished her first season with the Gators with a loss. Bohon finished her first season at Florida with the worst in Florida program history.
No. 3 Alabama rolled past Florida 2-0 Sunday to sink the Gators to the bottom of the standings. After chaining losses to Vanderbilt and the Crimson Tide this week, Florida’s been eliminated from contention for the 10-team SEC tournament for the first time in program history.
The Vanderbilt Commodores beat the Florida Gators 5-2 Thursday night at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The Commodores scored three of their goals in the opening 45 minute and never looked back.
This season, the Gators have navigated through injuries, losses and a strict schedule as the program hopes to rebuild following one of the most forgettable seasons in school history. So far, Florida holds a 2-11-1 record with a 0-6-1 mark in Southeastern Conference play. Despite the unimpressive record, Bohon is confident the team is heading in the right direction.
With the 1-1 draw, the Gators snapped an eight-match losing streak but extended their winless skid to nine. Florida has not won a match since Sept. 1, when it beat South Florida 2-1 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
Tessa Barton and Josie Curtis found a new home in Gators soccer. The two players committed to play for former Coach Tony Amato, but after just one season in charge, he was let go from UF. Barton and Curtis did not waver and have found new roles under new Head Coach Samantha Bohon.
UF was determined to snap its worst losing streak in program history. However, a Tigers’ penalty kick goal in the 66th minute was more than enough to shatter Florida’s dream. The Gators extended their skid to eight after falling 3-2 to Mizzou Sunday. With the loss, Florida has now dropped eight matches by a one-goal deficit this season.
The Gators were shut out for the fourth straight match after a 1-0 defeat to the No. 9 Razorbacks Thursday night. The loss pushes UF’s losing streak seven matches, the longest in school history.
The Gators lost Thursday night’s match to No. 22 South Carolina Gamecocks 1-0. UF junior goalkeeper Alexa Goldberg recorded seven saves, but it was not enough to avoid defeat. Florida has now been shutout in three straight matches.
“This was our worst performance of the season." Those were Florida head coach Samantha Bohon’s words following the Gators’ 3-0 loss against Georgia Sunday. UF’s losing streak is now extended to five matches on the season.
Florida soccer extended its losing streak to four after falling to No. 13 Ole Miss Thursday night. The Gators battled, but an early second-half goal was enough to sink them.
The Gators lost Friday night’s match to the Volunteers 2-1. UF sophomore forward Maddy Pirrello was a bright spot for Florida as she became the 25th player in program history to score her first goal in her first start.
UF fell to 2-5-0 on the season after its 2-1 loss to ECU Sunday afternoon. Florida finished with 18 shots and five on target, but it failed to find a late goal to salvage a draw. The Gators were assessed 14 fouls — which proved to be their achilles heel in the closing moments.
The No. 10 Seminoles dominated the Sunshine Showdown from kickoff to final whistle and handed Florida a 5-0 loss at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The Gators had a flawed performance, totaling only three shots during the match and allowing four goals in the second half.
Florida scored a late goal to win its first home match of the season against the USF Bulls. Gators midfielder Julianne Leskauskas finished with a goal and an assist.
Florida soccer suffered its second loss in a row Sunday afternoon after allowing an 80th minute goal. The Gators battled, but eventually fell to the Texas Longhorns.
Florida forward Alivia Gonzalez’s second goal of the season had Florida in position to secure its first draw of the season, but a late Baylor goal gave the Bears a dramatic win.