Florida Gators
6-4-3, 2-2-2
Alabama
12-2-0, 5-1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Florida | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Bailey’s Late Goal Lifts Florida Past No. 5 Alabama, 1-0
Thursday, October 8, 2026 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — With 93 seconds remaining, Lena Bailey gave Florida the finish it needed.
The senior chased down Lael Hill's pass, drove to the top of the penalty area and fired a right-footed shot into the far corner, lifting the Gators to a 1-0 victory over No. 5 Alabama on a rainy Thursday night at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
Bailey's goal at 88:27 handed Alabama its first Southeastern Conference loss of the season and gave Florida its second win over a top-five opponent. The Gators are the nation's only team with two wins over top-five opponents this season. Florida also defeated Florida State, then tied for No. 3, 3-1 on Aug. 23.
LENA BAILEY PUTS THE GATORS AHEAD 🚀
— Gators Soccer (@GatorsSoccer) October 9, 2026
🎥 SEC Network https://t.co/usVWxzLNXd
Florida improved to 6-4-3 overall and 2-2-2 in SEC play. Alabama fell to 12-2-0 and 5-1-0.
The finish delivered on Florida coach Nick Zimmerman's halftime challenge: Take the game.
"We felt like we've been playing really good fútbol, and we felt like the last performances have been really, really good. So just to see the players get the reward — they earned it. They took the game tonight," Zimmerman said. "In the past, we challenged them to take it. At half, we made it abundantly clear: We're going to see if we're ready to take that game. With a minute thirty, in that moment where we were under it for a little bit, to go back and take that game after the chance we had just missed — that's exceptional."
How It Happened:
Both teams had stretches of control, but Florida found the breakthrough after a late exchange of chances.
Alabama took the first two shots of the final 10 minutes before the Gators responded. Tatum Borman's shot was deflected out for a corner kick in the 87th minute, and Adia Symmonds sent an attempt wide in the 88th.
Then Hill launched a pass from just outside Florida's penalty area into space in Alabama's half. Bailey ran it down, carried the ball forward and finished from the top of the penalty area in the 89th minute.
It was Bailey's third goal of the season and her first since scoring twice against Jacksonville on Aug. 27.
Florida outshot Alabama 16-11. Gators goalkeeper Jayden Emmanuel made three saves, while Alabama's Madi Munguia finished with two.
Did You Know?
The win makes the Gators the nation's only program so far this season with a pair of wins versus top-5 opponents.
Aug. 23 Florida with 3-1 win versus then No. T3 Florida State
Oct. 8 Florida with 1-0 win versus No. 5 Alabama
This is the third time in the program's history the Gators posted a pair of wins versus a top-5 opponent
1998 1-0 vs No. 2 Santa Clara 1-0 vs No. 1 North Carolina
2012 3-2 OT at No. 2 Duke 2-1 at No. 5 Texas A&M
2026 3-1 vs No. T3 Florida St 1-0 vs No. 5 Alabama
Records
Florida: 6-4-3, 2-2-2 SEC
Alabama: 12-2, 5-1-0 SEC
Series
Florida leads 22-3-3, including an 11-0-1 record at home.
Next Up
Next up, Florida faces a pair of top-25 opponents on the road. Action starts Thursday, Oct. 15 at No. 3 Vanderbilt.
Then the Gators close the road trip Sunday, Oct. 18 at No. 23 Arkansas. SEC Schedule
Thursday, Oct. 15 at No. 3 Vanderbilt (11-0-1, 4-0-1 SEC)
Time/Site: 7 p.m. ET at Vanderbilt Soccer Complex
Video: SEC Network +
Live Stats
Admission: $2
Sunday, Oct. 18 at No. 23 Arkansas (4-4-3, 2-1-2 SEC)
Time/Site: 2:30 p.m. ET at Razorback Field
Video: SEC Network +
Live Stats
Admission: $16 – adult; $11 - youth
No. 5 Alabama (12-2-0, 5-1-0 SEC) at Florida (6-4-3, 2-2-2 SEC)
Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium (502)
Weather: 72 degrees, 94% humidity, Winds ENE at 8 mph, rain
| Goals by Period | 1 | 2 | Total |
| Alabama | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Florida | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Scoring Summary:
| No. | Time | Team | Goal Scorer | Assist |
| 1. | 88:27 | UF | Lena Bailey | Lael Hill |
Shots: Alabama 11, Florida 16
Saves: Alabama 2 (Madi Munguia 2); Florida 3 (Jayden Emmanuel 3)
Cautions: Avery Brown-ALA – yellow (11:54); Larkin Thomason-ALA – yellow (49:55); Norah Abbott-UF – yellow (82:27)
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Lena Bailey (3)
Assisted By: Lael Hill
GOAL by FLOR Bailey, Lena Assist by Hill, Lael.
88:27
