Florida Gators

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Two ranked teams remain in the Southeastern Conference Soccer Tournament and they face off Thursday in the semifinal round. No. 17 Florida meets No. 11 Texas A&M in Thursday's second semifinal, set for 7 p.m. ET at the Orange Beach SportsPlex.
 
Texas A&M is the top-ranked team remaining in the field, as Arkansas upset No. 3 South Carolina 1-0 in Tuesday's quarterfinal round. The Aggies are the tournament's No. 2 seed after taking second in the league with its 9-1 SEC record. The Gators took third in 2017 SEC regular-season action with a 7-3 record. These two teams have taken each of the last five SEC Tournament titles (Florida – 2012, 2015, 2016; TAMU – 2013, 2014).
 
Florida has advanced to the SEC Tournament each year in the program's history, winning 12 titles including the 2015 and 2016 crowns. In the 23-year history of Gator soccer, Florida has moved to the SEC Tournament semifinal 20 times. This is the third consecutive SEC Tournament semifinal for UF that it faces a team it lost to in regular-season action (2015 – Auburn; 2016 – South Carolina). Thursday's match marks the fourth different top-25 SEC opponent for UF in 2017 – an all-time high in the Gators' 23-year history.
 
Here's how to follow the Gators:
SEC Network continues its coverage of the 2017 SEC Tournament Thursday with both semifinals airing live. Gator Great Heather Mitts and Jenn Hildreth call the action for both semis.
 
On the go? Watch SEC Network + to see Thursday's action.
 
Listen to Kyle Crooks call of the match on ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM or via GatorVision.com.
 
Florida in Tuesday's SEC Quarterfinal Action:
Florida advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinal with a 1-0 win over Auburn. The only goal of the match came off a 20-yard free kick by junior Laís Araujo in the 31^st minute. It was the first free kick attempt by Araujo this season and her second goal of the season.
 
The shutout was Florida's ninth of the season and the 20^th of junior goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese'. She is now fourth on UF's career shutouts chart.
 
Entering Tuesday's match, Florida lost three consecutive to the Tigers, including a 1-0 loss at Auburn on Oct. 15.
 
Florida vs Texas A&M Regular-Season Meeting:
When these two teams met Sept. 21 in College Station, Texas, the Aggies used a long-range goal in each half to take a 2-1 win. Cienna Arrieta took the throw-in and hit a 35-yard shot in 34th minute. Florida tied the match in the 47th minute when Deanne Rose chipped it over the goalkeeper. Kendall Ritchie's left-footed 45-yard free kick in the 66th minute was the game-winner for the Aggies.
 
The win in College State gave TAMU a 7-6 edge in the all-time series.
 
About the Texas A&M Aggies:
Texas A&M's 7-1 quarterfinal win over Missouri is the most goals scored in the SEC Tournament since Vanderbilt's 8-3 win over Arkansas in 1997. The 2-1 win over Florida on Sept. 21 started the Aggies' current 11-match win streak.
 
The four goals scored Tuesday by sophomore Ally Watt equals the Aggies' match record. She leads TAMU with 11 goals and 24 points. Junior Emily Bates' six assists leads the Aggies. Junior transfer Cosette Morche has played every minute in goal for TAMU in 2017 and owns a 0.70 goals against average along with seven shutouts.
 
G Guerrieri is in his 25th season as head coach of the Aggies.
 
All-SEC Gators:
Five Gators appear on the 2017 All-SEC teams, announced Oct. 29 by the league office. Three appear on the first team – Parker Roberts, Deanne Rose and Gabby Seiler. Two Gator defenders appear on the second team – Kristen Cardano and Rachelle Smith. Seiler is a three-time All-SEC first team selection (2014 at Georgia, 2016 with UF) and Cardano was on the 2016 All-SEC second team. Cardano missed the final four matches of the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered Oct. 12 versus Florida State.
 
Rose is the fourth SEC Freshman of the Year for the Gators and first since Savannah Jordan in 2013. The only freshman on the All-SEC first team, she is also part of the SEC All-Freshman Team.
 
Records:
Florida: 14-5, 7-3 SEC
Texas A&M: 15-2-1, 9-1 SEC
 
Rankings:
Florida ranks No. 17 on the United Soccer Coaches poll and Texas A&M is No. 11.