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Gator Soccer Galleries

Photo Gallery: UF soccer vs. South Carolina, 10/30/09 : The No. 10 University of Florida soccer team (14-4-2, 8-1-2 SEC) shut out No. 13 South Carolina (15-3-1, 7-3-1 SEC) 3-0 to win the Southeastern Conference title in the regular-season finale Friday evening in front of a James G. Pressly Stadium crowd of 3,104. The title is the fourth consecutive for the Gators and the 10th in the program’s 15-year history.

Florida entered Friday’s match with a one-point lead over South Carolina and LSU in the league standings.

Florida’s six-member senior class earned their fourth SEC championship ring, thanks in part to the effort of the freshmen class. All of Florida’s goals were scored by freshmen and the first two assists came from a freshman.

The freshmen duo of McKenzie Barney and Erika Tymrak combined on both of Florida’s first half goals. Barney has turned in three double-goal matches this season – versus Vanderbilt, versus then No. 17 LSU and versus No. 13 South Carolina. She is second among the Gators with seven goals and tied for third with 15 points.

The final goal came when senior Lauren Hyde sent a 35-yard free kick into the box. Freshman Holly King headed the ball into the center of the goal from 12-yards at 87:03. It was King’s third goal of the season and second consecutive scored off a header.

The shutout was Florida’s eighth of the season and fourth consecutive. UF goalkeeper Katie Fraine recorded two saves Friday.

Photo Gallery: UF soccer vs. South Carolina, 10/30/09

The No. 10 University of Florida soccer team (14-4-2, 8-1-2 SEC) shut ...

Updated: Nov 05, 2009 3:03pm PST

Photo Gallery: UF Soccer vs. LSU, 10/22/09 : A pair of goals in each half gave the No. 12 University of Florida soccer team (12-4-2, 6-1-2 SEC) a 4-0 win over No. 17 LSU (10-4-3, 6-2-1 SEC) Thursday evening in front of a James G. Pressly Stadium crowd of 1,359.

The win moves Florida from third to second in the Southeastern Conference standings. The Gators have two matches remaining in their league schedule – at Arkansas on Sunday and versus No. 10 and SEC leader South Carolina on Friday, Oct. 30.

In her second consecutive start and first at home, redshirt freshman McKenzie Barney scored Florida’s first and final goals of the match.

Freshman Brooke Thigpen scored Florida’s third goal in the 61st minute, moving her into second among the Gators with six goals this season.

UF goalkeeper Katie Fraine turned in four saves Thursday, including a diving stop on Taryne Boudreau’s 23-yard free kick in the eighth minute. LSU’s starting goalkeeper, Mo Isom, turned in three saves. Hannah Linzay entered the match in the 83rd minute for the Tigers and did not record a save.

The Gators wore pink uniforms Thursday as it was Florida soccer’s first Cancer Awareness match. Events surrounding the match had information regarding prevention and raising awareness about the fight against the cancer. For one of the Gators, the match had special significance. Senior Lauren Hyde’s mother, Lisa, passed away from breast cancer in Hyde’s senior year of high school.

Photo Gallery: UF Soccer vs. LSU, 10/22/09

A pair of goals in each half gave the No. 12 University of Florida soc ...

Updated: Oct 23, 2009 9:39pm PST

Photo Gallery: UF soccer vs Vanderbilt, 9/27/09 : The No. 10 University of Florida soccer team (8-3, 2-0 SEC) finished its opening weekend of Southeastern Conference play with a 5-1 win over Vanderbilt (6-3-1, 0-2 SEC) Sunday afternoon at the James G. Pressly Stadium.

The Gators’ first goal started when Holly King saw Nicky Kit calling for the ball on the left sideline. Kit ran onto the ball and served it into the box where there were options waiting. Lindsay Thompson was at the near post, but ball continued on where Tahnai Annis tapped it in from four-yards in the 34th minute.

Shortly before the half, the ball came off VU’s Rachel Bachtel after she tried to stop Natalia Torosian’s centering pass. The deflection came right at the foot of redshirt freshman McKenzie Barney, who recorded her first collegiate goal in the 44th minute.

Barney also scored again in the 83rd minute when she put in a four-yard shot off an Annis corner kick. It was the second Sunday in a row that a Gator who scored her first collegiate goal also added another. In Florida’s non-conference season finale, Torosian scored a goal in each half of Florida’s 5-1 win over Eastern Kentucky.

Florida’s first goal of the second half came when Jessica Eicken headed in a Kit corner kick in the 52nd minute. It was Eicken’s first goal of the season and her first since she headed in the golden goal to give Florida a 4-3 OT win at Vanderbilt last season.

Freshman Erika Tymrak scored in the 66th minute when Annis send a ball across the box. Tymrak one-touched the ball in to the far post corner for her third goal of the season. 

Gator goalkeeper Katie Fraine was busy earning five saves in her 77 minutes of action Sunday.

Photo Gallery: UF soccer vs Vanderbilt, 9/27/09

The No. 10 University of Florida soccer team (8-3, 2-0 SEC) finished i ...

Updated: Sep 27, 2009 3:21pm PST

Photo Gallery: UF Soccer vs. FSU, 9/18/09 : The No. 7 University of Florida soccer team (5-3, 0-0 SEC) lost 1-0 in overtime to No. 5 Florida State (7-1, 0-0 ACC) Friday evening in front a James G. Pressly crowd of 3,526 - the fifth-largest crowd in the program’s 15 seasons. Friday’s result was the first overtime contest in the 17-match series between the two teams.

The lone goal came when sophomore Toni Pressley hit an eight-yard shot off a deflection in the 93rd minute. It was her first goal of the season. For the match, both teams turned in nine shots.

The Gators finish their non-conference slate on Sunday, Sept. 20 when they play host to Eastern Kentucky (3-5, 0-0 Ohio Valley). Match time is set for 1 p.m. at Pressly Stadium.

Photo Gallery: UF Soccer vs. FSU, 9/18/09

The No. 7 University of Florida soccer team (5-3, 0-0 SEC) lost 1-0 in ...

Updated: Sep 19, 2009 6:31am PST

Photo Gallery: UF soccer vs. USF, 8/30/09 : This gallery is a free taste of what is ahead for Gator Country subscribers. All season long, Gator Country will provide the most comprehensive coverage of the UF soccer team. Extensive photo galleries, game stories, previews and player features will be posted every week, so make sure to subscribe to Gator Country today to avoid missing out!

The No. 7 University of Florida soccer team (3-0, 0-0 SEC) came back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to defeat USF (1-1, 0-0 Big East) 2-1 Sunday afternoon in front of a James G. Pressly Stadium crowd of 1,787.

The Bulls took advantage of a Gator defensive problem late in the opening half to take the 1-0 halftime lead. Brittany Pilon found Noelle Pineiro with space in the box. Pineiro hit the 10-yard shot for her second goal of the season at 44:25.

UF senior All-American Lauren Hyde t tied the match early in the second half. UF was awarded a free kick after Erika Tymrak was fouled. Hyde took the strike and her 25-yard shot hit the post and kicked in for her first collegiate goal.

Hyde also played a part in Florida’s second goal. Sophomore Jazmyne Avant crossed the ball from the sideline into the center of the box. Hyde took a shot, but a USF defender blocked the ball. The deflection popped up and Tahnai Annis’s volley shot found the back of the net from eight-yards at 77:17. 

Elliott suffered a left knee sprain and left the match in the 16th minute. She will be examined by team doctors early this week.

For the match, UF goalkeeper Katie Fraine turned in two saves while USF’s Lofton-Malachi tallied eight.

The Gators head to the Midwest next weekend for a pair of matches. Florida faces Indiana (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) on Friday, Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. The Hoosiers were 1-0 winners over Central Michigan Sunday. Then the Gators head to Champaign, Ill., to face No. 9 UCLA (0-1-1, 0-0 Pac 10) on Sunday, Sept. 6 at noon.

Photo Gallery: UF soccer vs. USF, 8/30/09

This gallery is a free taste of what is ahead for Gator Country subscr ...

Updated: Sep 03, 2009 6:52am PST

UF Soccer vs. FIU, 8/28/09 : Three second half goals by three different players gave the No. 7 University of Florida soccer team (2-0, 0-0 SEC) a 3-0 win over Florida International (1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) Friday evening in front of a James G. Pressly Stadium crowd of 1,927.

A FIU foul just at the top of the18-yard box led to the Gators’ first goal. Senior Angela Napolitano took the free kick. FIU goalkeeper Melanie Raimo got a hand on the ball but it continued to travel across the face of the goal where sophomore Lindsay Thompson headed it in at the far post corner for her first score of 2009.

The final 11 minutes of the match saw the first collegiate goals scored by freshmen roommates Erika Tymrak and Brooke Thigpen.

UF goalkeeper Katie Fraine turned in three saves.

The Gators are in action again Sunday, Aug. 30 when USF (1-0, 0-0 Big East) comes to town. The Bulls were 1-0 winners over Florida Atlantic Friday evening in their season opener. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at Pressly Stadium.

UF Soccer vs. FIU, 8/28/09

Three second half goals by three different players gave the No. 7 Univ ...

Updated: Aug 29, 2009 1:37am PST

UF soccer vs. Mississippi State, 10/12/08 : The UF soccer team will close out the home regular-season schedule tonight against Arkansas at 7pm. 

Here's a photo gallery from the Gators' 3-0 win against Mississippi State on Oct. 12. Before the match, three seniors were recognized for their achievements at UF. Megan Kerns, Ameera Abdullah and Liz Ruberry were each presented with a framed jersey.

UF soccer vs. Mississippi State, 10/12/08

The UF soccer team will close out the home regular-season schedule ton ...

Updated: Oct 23, 2008 12:10pm PST

UF Soccer defeats Lady Vols 5-1, 9/28/08 : Five goals by four different Gators, including two goals by senior Ameera Abdullah, gave the No. 16 Florida soccer team (7-2-1, 2-0 SEC) a 5-1 win over Tennessee (3-7, 0-2 SEC) Sunday afternoon in front of a James G. Pressly Stadium crowd of 1,679. Florida’s goal total Sunday was its second-highest offensive output of the season. UF posted a 6-1 win versus Nebraska on Aug. 31.

Abdullah’s first score of the match was set up when the Gators played some give-n-go up the left flank. Tahnai Annis was able to break free of her defender and brought the ball into the box. She touched the ball to her right where Abdullah chested it in at the far post at 18:17.

She struck again in the 29th minute when she received the ball from the midfield and started her drive down the left side. Abdullah then entered the box and hesitated to force her marker off balance. A couple more touches later, she placed her 10-yard shot in the upper corner at the far post.

The two goals was the fourth multi-goal match of her Gator career and pushed her to 53 career points off of 20 goals and 13 assists. She is the 14th Gator to pass the 50-career points mark in the program’s 14-year history.

Florida’s third and final goal of the half came in the 39th minute when Angela Napolitano found the ball loose in the box. She placed it in at the near post from five yards for her third goal of the season.

Second half scoring started when Tennessee’s Emily Dowd was fouled in the box in the 64th minute and the Lady Vols were awarded a penalty kick – the first against the Gators this season. Senior Kylee Rossi scored on the attempt for her fifth goal of 2008.

Florida pushed the advantage back to three goals just over three minutes later when Ashlee Elliott saw freshman Lindsay Thompson calling for the ball in the box. Elliott sent the ball in from 30 yards where Thompson finished it with a five-yard header at the far post corner. It was Thompson’s second goal of the season.

Laura Ray turned in the first goal of her collegiate career in the 82nd minute. Megan Kerns’ pass found Ray near the top of the box. She touched the ball once and then sent a low shot into the center of the net.

Next up, Florida continues action versus SEC Eastern Division rivals when it travels to meet Vanderbilt on Friday, Oct. 3. Match time is set for 8 p.m. (ET) at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex. Vanderbilt opened SEC action with a pair of losses to Alabama (2-0) and Auburn (3-2).

UF Soccer defeats Lady Vols 5-1, 9/28/08

Five goals by four different Gators, including two goals by senior Ame ...

Updated: Sep 30, 2008 6:08pm PST

Photo Gallery: Soccer vs. Kansas, 9/21/08 : Photos by Casey Brooke Lawson
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Two second-half goals by junior Ashlee Elliott gave the No. 16 Florida soccer team (5-2-1, 0-0 SEC) a 2-1 win over No. 25 Kansas (6-2, 0-0 Big 12) Sunday afternoon in front of a James G. Pressly Stadium crowd of 1,278. The match was the final of the non-conference schedule, as league action begins next Friday for both teams.

The Gators were forced to come from behind after the Jayhawks scored first at 58:43. A pair of KU juniors combined for the first goal of the match. Monica Dolinsky sent the ball across the field, finding Shannon McCabe. She dribbled and then placed her shot in from 10 yards.

The Florida attack showed more urgency after the KU goal. After some near chances, Florida knotted the score at 65:24. The ball looked to be going out at the endline for a KU goal kick but freshman Tahnai Annis saved the ball just before it crossed the line. She flicked the ball over her left shoulder back to the center of the box. Elliott headed the ball into the center of the goal for her first score of the season.

A change by Elliott in her normal run resulted in the goal.

“I rarely get in the box. I make that run every once in a while. The coaches said I needed to start getting in the box more and more,” Elliott said. “So I just took that time to get in the box and wait for Tahnai. I told Tahnai to ‘Attack, attack’ and she got that flick off. I was able to just jump over the keeper and head it in.”

Elliott’s second score of the match started with Ameera Abdullah’s throw-in from the right touchline. The ball deflected off a KU defender’s leg and end up by Elliott above the box. Her 25-yard, left-footed shot went in untouched at the center of the goal right below the crossbar.

Although the assist officially was credited to Abdullah, Elliott gave a long-distance assist to her mother, Betsy, in California.

“My mom texted me before the match and told me to take a shot,” Elliott said. “So with the left foot, I took a shot. I can’t believe it went off and went in. I was really excited. So I give credit to my mom.”

It was the first multi-goal match of Elliott’s career. A member of U.S. Under-20 and U-23 National Team Player Pools, Elliott is a player that can make her presence known in a match, UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh said.

“We talked about how she can physically impose herself anytime she wants to on just about any team that we play. When she does that, she’s dangerous,” Burleigh said. “I thought especially on the header goal, she just physically imposed herself on them.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Meghan Berlingo turned in a career-high five saves Sunday, including a pair of one-handed second-half saves. In the 56th minute, Berlingo was on the ground due to collision in the box, but rose up to knock down Kortney Clifton’s five-yard shot. Later in the half, KU’s Kim Boyer took a 25-yard shot. Berlingo just got her hand on it to tip it over the crossbar for a Jayhawk corner kick at 77:05.

It was an unusual away-home weekend for the Gators. They played at No. 5 Portland Friday evening (losing 2-0) and took the red-eye flight back from Oregon, returning to Gainesville early Saturday afternoon. The Gators looked laggard Sunday, but junior Lauren Hyde knows that creating energy will be vital for the challenges of the upcoming conference season.

“It was a really long trip. I thought we looked tired when we came out. But it’s not an excuse. We have to come out and play. Luckily, we got the win today, but on other days, the way we played today may not be acceptable.”

Next up, Florida opens Southeastern Conference action by playing host to Georgia on Friday, Sept. 26. Match time is set for 7 p.m. (ET) at the James G. Pressly Stadium and admission is free. Florida and Georgia were the top two teams in the 2007 SEC standings (Florida No. 1 at 9-2 and Georgia No. 2 at 8-1-2). The first 1,000 fans will receive a Gator soccer t-shirt compliments of SUN Sports and Friday’s match is live on SUN Sports. The match can also be heard live on WRUF AM 850 with Adam Schick and Matthew Stubbington covering the action.

Photo Gallery: Soccer vs. Kansas, 9/21/08

Photos by Casey Brooke Lawson -- Two second-half goals by junior Ashle ...

Updated: Sep 25, 2008 4:11pm PST

Photo Gallery: UF Soccer and Volleyball non-conference action : The UF soccer team is 4-1-1 heading into a road match at Portland on Friday, before returning home to face Kansas on Sunday. The UF volleyball team is 6-1, with only a road loss at Colorado State.

The soccer team fell to UCF 1-0 on Aug. 29, then overwhelmed Nebraska 6-1 on Aug. 31. Both matches are featured in the gallery. 

The volleyball team is shown beating Jacksonville on Sept. 5 and Long Beach State on Sept. 6 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

Mary Wise and the Gator volleyball team will open SEC play by hosting Georgia on Friday and LSU on Sunday.

Photo Gallery: UF Soccer and Volleyball non-conference action

The UF soccer team is 4-1-1 heading into a road match at Portland on F ...

Updated: Sep 17, 2008 11:42am PST

Gator Soccer wins SEC Championship! :

Gator Soccer wins SEC Championship!

Updated: Nov 05, 2007 9:31am PST

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