Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Anna Danilina returns a backhand during Florida's 4-2 win against Oklahoma State on Feb. 18, 2017, at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

UF women’s tennis players in Athens, Georgia, for ITA Southeast Regional Championships

By Mari Faiello | Oct. 19, 2017

After taking two weeks to practice what they learned at the Riviera ITA All-American Championships, Florida’s women’s tennis players traveled to Athens, Georgia, on Thursday for their next tournament. The Gators will play in the ITA Southeast Regional Championships — a competition that includes 17 schools from Florida and Georgia.

UF midfielder Sarah Troccoli scored her first goal of the season against Kentucky on Thursday in Daytona Beach. "It came at a good time because it was nice to go into the locker room with a lead instead of 0-0," coach Becky Burleigh said.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators soccer team beats Kentucky 2-0 in Daytona Beach

By Mark Stine | Oct. 19, 2017

Sarah Troccoli took the ball into the attacking third, cut inside from the left flank and fired a shot 18 yards from goal just before halftime. The junior midfielder’s shot curled over the head of Kentucky goalkeeper Abigail Zoeller and dipped under the bar, giving Troccoli her first goal of the season.

After losing to No. 5 Kentucky, the Gators will travel to Alabama to play the Crimson Tide and Auburn. “We played the best in the country, or will be, or is one of the best,” coach Mary Wise said of Kentucky following the loss.

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Gators eager to address the problems from their first loss of the season

By Justin Ahlum | Oct. 18, 2017

After losing to No. 5 Kentucky, the Gators knew the Wildcats earned the win. Rachael Kramer, Rhamat Alhassan and Mary Wise all shared similar thoughts following the match.

UF punter Johnny Townsend retweeted a gif praising him for a personal-best 67-yard punt following Florida's 19-17 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Bragging after a loss? Another instance of the Gators’ laughable social media conduct

By Dylan Dixon | Oct. 18, 2017

I had a column published last week about Florida’s football players and their questionable social media profiles.

UF defensive lineman Jordan Sherit gets carted off the field during Florida's 19-17 loss to Texas A&M. Coach Jim McElwain confirmed on Wednesday that Sherit underwent season-ending surgery earlier this week.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

McElwain confirms Gators defensive end Jordan Sherit is out for the season

By Ethan Bauer | Oct. 18, 2017

Jordan Sherit fell to the turf, propped himself up by the elbow and reached for his right hip. When Florida’s trainers arrived, he lied down and tugged at his facemask in pain. He hobbled to the sideline using the trainers as crutches. Finally, he was carted off the field, tightening his face with each movement and giving a thumbs up near the tunnel. But the thumbs up was just sentiment.

UF's Kristen Cardano dribbles during Florida's 2-1 win against Troy in an exhibition match on Aug. 11, 2015, at the soccer practice field at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators soccer team looking to bounce back against Kentucky on Thursday

By Mark Stine | Oct. 18, 2017

What a difference one week made for the UF soccer team.

Becky Burleigh's announced her retirement as UF's head soccer coach after 26 years at the helm

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators move soccer game to Daytona Beach to avoid Richard Spencer event

By Morgan McMullen | Oct. 17, 2017

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.

UF quarterback Feleipe Franks looks to throw the ball during Florida's 19-17 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: 25 things that made me cringe in the Gators’ loss to Texas A&M

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 17, 2017

It’s tough to go into a bye week on a loss. That’s what coach Jim McElwain said after UF dropped its second straight home game to the Aggies, 19-17, on Saturday.

With John Egbunu and Gorjok Gak recovering from injury, Kevarrius Hayes is ready to lead Florida basketball's "thin" front court.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Kevarrius Hayes tasked with leading a ‘thin’ Florida front court

By Jake Dreilinger | Oct. 17, 2017

When redshirt senior John Egbunu tore his ACL in Florida’s 114-95 win at Auburn last season, Florida men’s basketball coach Mike White turned to Kevarrius Hayes to keep the front court afloat.

New women's basketball coach Cam Newbauer spoke to the media on Tuesday for the second time since he was hired nearly six months ago.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Women’s basketball notebook: Gators beginning to sort out roster

By Morgan McMullen | Oct. 17, 2017

Just two weeks into his team’s practice schedule, women’s basketball coach Cameron Newbauer is still unsure of where exactly his players will be on the court, let alone who the starters will be.

Freshman Andy Andrade claimed the singles consolation title on Tuesday at the ITA Regional Championships in Atlanta.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

UF freshman Andy Andrade claims consolation singles title at ITA Regionals

By Mari Faiello | Oct. 17, 2017

It was a successful day for men’s tennis as they claimed the consolation singles title in Atlanta at the ITA Regional Championships tournament.

The United States failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: After U.S. men’s soccer loss, it's important not to forget about the women’s team

By Jake Dreilinger | Oct. 16, 2017

The United States men’s soccer team lost to Trinidad and Tobago a week ago, knocking out any chance of the U.S. making the World Cup in Russia next year.

Senior Chase Perez-Blanco played the last regular-season match of his Gators career in UF's 7-0 victory over Alabama on Friday. “I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “It’s just been the best four years.”

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Men’s tennis finishes Day 4 in Atlanta; remains in contention for doubles title

By Mari Faiello | Oct. 16, 2017

A three-hour rain delay didn’t stop Florida’s men’s tennis team from winning matches on Monday.

Sophomore Andy Zhang is tied for first heading into the final day of the NCAA Kissimmee Regional. He's at 8 under with freshman John Axelsen just behind him at 7 under.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Individual success 'not good enough' for UF men's golf team

By Tyler Nettuno | Oct. 16, 2017

When Florida opened its season at the Carpet Capital Invitational in Dalton, Georgia, over a month ago, it had one major underlying problem: a lack of well-rounded team play.

Junior Jessica Pascoe (middle) and senior Caitlin McQuilkin-Bell (right) compete in the Mountain Dew Invitational on Saturday at the Mark Bostick Golf Course in 2017 alongside former-Gator Lauren Perry.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS CROSS COUNTRY

UF cross country runner Jessica Pascoe rises to the competition post-foot injury

By Alana Gomez | Oct. 16, 2017

Jessica Pascoe waited nine months to run with the Gators women’s cross country team again. This was abnormal for a UF runner, as they usually compete not only with cross country in the fall but the indoor and outdoor track and field in the spring as well. But when a tightness started to aggravate her foot, the Australia native knew she would not be able to make a return to the course anytime soon.

Despite a dominant performance on defense, Florida's offense failed to outscore Texas A&M in the Swamp on Saturday night. "I feel like the defense always does enough," defensive lineman CeCe Jefferson (right) said after the game.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

BEYOND REPAIR: No solution in sight for scoring struggles

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 15, 2017

Coach Jim McElwain stood in front of reporters and ran through his postgame clichés.

Tennessee head coach Butch Jones yells to a players in the first half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: McElwain isn’t the only one feeling the heat: Three coaching hot seats in the SEC East

By Skyler Lebron | Oct. 15, 2017

We’re smack dab in the middle of SEC football conference play, and some coaches are already suffering from severe butt sweats from how hot their seats are. Some might also be a little more soothingly warm on the buttocks than you might expect.

UF soccer coach Becky Burleigh talks with her team following Florida's 5-2 win against Iowa State on Aug. 19, 2016, at James G. Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOCCER

Gators lose at Auburn after being shutout for second straight game

By Morgan McMullen | Oct. 15, 2017

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.

Oliver Crawford started his career at UF with two wins at the ITA Regional Championships in Atlanta. “Great to see Oliver play his first collegiate matches,” coach Bryan Shelton said. “I am sure he will get better with each match he plays.”

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

UF men’s tennis player makes freshman debut in Atlanta

By Mari Faiello | Oct. 15, 2017

Oliver Crawford played in his first match as a UF tennis player over the weekend at the ITA Regional Championships in Atlanta. Crawford, a freshman from Spartanburg, South Carolina, made his debut a memorable one. He won his first match in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, against Joan Carles Alcala of Georgia Southern on Saturday.

Rachael Kramer (above) and Florida's volleyball team lost its first match of the season Sunday afternoon against Kentucky. "I’ve got to give Kentucky a ton of credit,” Kramer said. "They were killing it across the net."

SPORTS | VOLLEYBALL

Kentucky comes in ‘guns-a-blazin’ to hand Gators first loss

By Justin Ahlum | Oct. 15, 2017

Kentucky’s Kaz Brown went up for the ball on the right side of the net. With two Gators in front and Allie Monserez crashing to aid them, Brown sent the shot toward the left side of Florida’s defense and found open space, doubling UK’s lead in the third set.