Florida Gators

DALLAS, Texas-- The No. 17 University of Florida women's soccer team fell to defending NCAA champion and preseason No. 1 North Carolina 2-1 Friday evening at Southern Methodist's Westcott Field.  Friday's contest was a rematch of a 1996 NCAA quarterfinal match, which UNC defeated UF by a score of 9-0 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
 
The Tar Heels got on the scoreboard within the first minute of play, as Rakel Karvelsson got the UNC goal after just 37 seconds of play. That would be the only goal until late in the second half, when UF sophomore Sarah Yohe knotted the score at 1-all at the 84:46 mark off an unassisted breakaway.  The tie didn't last for long, though as UNC senior Robin Confer scored the game-winning goal just over a minute later at 85:59 off an assist from Raven McDonald.  The Gators were outshot 6-5 in Friday's match.
 
"We gave a really gutsy performance today," UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh said.  "We got another clutch goal from Sarah Yohe. Of course, we are disappointed, but there were a lot of positives in tonight's match."
 
The Gators will now travel to Boulder, Colo., to meet the University of Colorado Buffaloes in a Monday, Sept. 1, contest.  Match time is set for 3 p.m. (ET) at the Pleasant View Soccer Complex.