After 90 minutes, the box score read 18-5 in shots and 10-3 in corners, both in favor of Florida. Yet it was LSU (3-8-1) who came away with a 2-1 victory over Florida (5-4-3). The Gators suffered their first home loss in conference play and fell to 1-2-2 in the SEC stretch.
With nonconference play concluded, the road back to Florida’s first NCAA Tournament since 2019 continues Thursday with yet another ranked foe: No. 19 South Carolina (6-1).
No. 21 Florida (4-2-1) was unable to find an answer, falling 2-1 to No. 5 Wake Forest (7-0) on Sunday at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The loss marked Florida’s first at home this season.
No. 21 Florida (4-1-1) defeated Youngstown State (0-5-1) 2-0 Thursday on Senior Night at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The Gators dominated from start to finish, outshooting the Penguins 33-3.
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.
No. 20 Florida (3-1-1) ultimately settled for its first draw of the season, tying Florida Atlantic (1-2-2) 1-1 on Sunday at FAU Soccer Stadium. The Gators controlled the attack with 18 shots, but junior goalkeeper Ashley Small delivered a career-high 10 saves to preserve the draw for the Owls.
Florida (3-1) dominated Jacksonville University (1-1-1) 6-0 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. UF completely took over the match, outshooting the Dolphins 16-1 and remaining perfect all-time against Jacksonville. The Gators’ six goals marked their highest single-game total since Aug. 27, 2023, when they defeated Stetson 8-0.
It’s a tale of two contrasting styles: Florida’s explosive, high-powered offense against Jacksonville’s stifling defense. The Gators have scored three goals in each of their first three matches, while the Dolphins have yet to concede a goal this season.
After a magical Sunday in which everything went right for the Gators, Florida seniors Kyra Taylor and Jayden Emmanuel earned Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors. Taylor was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week after recording a brace in each of Florida’s two victories, while Emmanuel earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
A new coach often brings familiar players, and a significant portion of Florida’s 2026 transfer class followed Zimmerman from Mississippi State to Gainesville. Seven Bulldogs made the move after combining for 17 goals in 2025, accounting for almost half of their scoring.
Florida (2-1) snapped its eight-game losing streak to Florida State (3-1) with a 3-1 win at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The remarkable triumph was one of the biggest upsets in the country and gave Florida fans hope that the Nick Zimmerman era will provide excellence.
The first half of the match followed a familiar script from the loss against Central Florida on Aug. 13, with the Gators jumping out to a 2-0 lead before Coastal Carolina battled back. However, unlike in the opener, UF fought through adversity to regain the lead and secure its first win under Zimmerman.
A new era for Florida soccer kicks off Thursday evening on the road against UCF. Head coach Nick Zimmerman begins his first season in Gainesville and opens his Gator career in his home state as a Tampa native.
Nylah’s competitive mindset helped shape her path to the University of Florida, where she enters her freshman year under first-year head coach Nick Zimmerman. The connection between the two stems back to Zimmerman’s days as Mississippi State head coach. He recruited Nylah and planned to host her for a visit. However, she decided to commit to the Gators to be closer to her family, who had recently moved from Texas.
When Mexico kicked off the 2026 World Cup against South Africa on June 11, the world came to a screeching halt. For the next 38 days, all eyes would be fixed on the pitch as nations competed for the highest honor of the most popular sport on the planet.
Solutions by The State News
