Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gator soccer team faces a pair of in-state rivals this weekend.
 
Friday, Sept. 6 at No. 6 Florida State
Time/Site: 7 p.m. at Seminole Soccer Complex
Streaming Video: ACC Network +
Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM with action called by Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington
Tickets: free
Live Stats
 
Sunday, Sept. 8 versus UCF
Time/Site: 6 p.m. at Donald R Dizney Stadium
Streaming Video: SEC Network + with Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington calling the action
Radio: ESPN 98.1 FM 850 AM with action called by Skylar Lebron
Tickets: free
Live Stats
Promotions: Commemorative Patch Giveaway- The first 250 fans in attendance receive a free 25^th anniversary patch. Posters, magnets and schedule cards will be available for all fans in attendance while supplies last.
 
The Gators in Last Weekend's Action in Los Angeles:
In the Battle at the Banc held last Thursday in Los Angeles, Florida lost 3-1 to then No. 5 Southern California. Trojans Tara McKeown and Arlie Jones put the Trojans up 2-0 by the 36^th minute of the match. The first Gator goal for senior Alex Stubblebine cut the Trojan's lead late in the opening half. Her 22-yard strike to the far post scored at 41:57. USC pushed the lead back out to a pair of goals when McKeown scored her second in the 60^th minute.  
 
The Gators finished their trip to Los Angeles with a 2-0 loss at then No. 4 UCLA. After a scoreless opening 45 minutes, the Bruins got on the board early in second half when Marley Canales successfully converted a penalty kick. The Bruins struck again at 58:12 when Delanie Sheehan put in a deflection off Kali Trevithick's 16-yard shot. The Gators had their opportunities Sunday, sending some dangerous crosses and balls into the box, but couldn't find the scoring touch.
 
About the Seminoles:
The 2019 Seminoles were 20-4-3 in 2018 and won its second NCAA team title with a 1-0 decision over North Carolina. The Seminoles were also out in Los Angeles last week, suffering a pair of losses to top-five Pac-12 opponents – 2-1 versus then No. 4 UCLA and 3-2 overtime loss to then No. 5 Southern California. The 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List includes a quad  of Seminoles – senior Deyna Castellanos, junior Malia Berkeley, sophomores Jaelin Howell and Yujie Zhao. Seminole junior Gabby Carle was on Canada's World Cup rosters this past summer.
 
Other Notes About UF-FSU Meeting:

• Friday's match closes a three-match stretch for UF versus teams among the United Soccer Coaches' top 10. Florida lost 3-1 to then No. 5 Southern California on Aug. 29 in the nightcap of the Battle at the Banc event and lost 2-0 at then No. 4 UCLA on Sunday. Friday's match at No. 6 Florida State is the third top-10 opponents in an eight-day stretch for the Gators.
• This is the third time in Gator soccer history (and second straight year) that Florida faces three consecutive top-10 opponents. The first was when Florida won the 1998 NCAA title after facing top-10 teams in NCAA quarterfinal, semifinal and final action. Florida was 0-2-1 in its 2018 stretch versus top-10 opponents – 0-0 2OT vs No. 2 UCLA, 3-0 loss vs No. 7 Southern Cal and 1-0 loss at No. 3 FSU.

 
About the UCF Knights:
UCF is looking for its first win of 2019. In its last match a week ago at George Mason, the Knights and the Patriots played to a 2-2 double overtime tie. UCF opened the season with a pair of home matches versus Big Ten opponents – Wisconsin (Aug. 22 – 1-0 loss) and Ohio State (1-1 2OT). Three Knights have scored in 2019 – Dayana Martin (at GMU), Kristen Scott (at GMU) and Jessica Taylor (vs OSU). UCF is the fourth consecutive Florida opponent with a player who participated at the 2019 World Cup. UCF defender Konya Plummer played the entirety of each of Jamaica's three World Cup matches.