Thursday, August 27
Gainesville, FL
6 p.m.
Florida Gators
vs
Jacksonville
Courtney Hogan (#16) and the rest of the No. 20 Gators look forward to playing at Dizney Stadium again Thursday versus Jacksonville, Then the Gators head south to face Florida Atlantic on Sunday.
Florida Closes August with Two In-State Rivals
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 20 Florida soccer (2-1, 0-0 SEC) closes August action with a pair of matches against in-state opponents.
The Gators wrap up a three-match homestand Thursday, Aug. 27, when undefeated Jacksonville visits Donald R. Dizney Stadium. Florida then heads south for a road match at Florida Atlantic to close the season's first month of action.
Thursday, Aug. 27 versus Jacksonville
Time/Site: 6:30 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium
Streaming Video: SEC Network + Announcers: Ryan Urquhart and Matthew Stubbington
ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM WRUF Announcers: Nevada Cullen and Lance Williams calling the action
Live Stats
Admission: Free
Promotions: Staff Appreciation Night - Gators Soccer celebrates UF faculty and staff at The Diz! Join us as we recognize the people who make the University of Florida special, then cheer on the Gators as they take on Jacksonville!
Admission is free for all Gator soccer regular-season home matches. 2026 Florida Soccer Promotions
Sunday, Aug. 30 at Florida Atlantic
Time/Site: 2 p.m. at FAU Soccer Stadium
TV: ESPN +
Live Stats
Florida Back in Top 25:
Following a pair of wins, including a 3-1 victory over defending NCAA champion Florida State, the Gators returned to the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 this week at No. 20 in the Week 2 poll.
The ranking marks Florida's first appearance in the coaches poll since Week 3 of the 2020 season. The Gators went 81 consecutive polls without appearing in the Top 25.
Florida's return also carries a bit of program symmetry.
Thirty years ago, the Gators made their first appearance in the coaches poll during the program's second season. Florida entered the Week 2 poll of the 1996 campaign at No. 20 — the same position UF holds this week.
Weekly Honors for a Pair of Gators:
A pair of Gators picked up Southeastern Conference weekly honors following Florida's two-win week. Kyra Taylor is the SEC Offensive Player of the Week, while Jayden Emmanuel is the SEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Taylor added national recognition as the TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week after scoring two goals in each of Florida's last two matches.
The scorer of the Gators' third goal against Florida State also earned a spot in the national spotlight. Senior Montelene Dymond's drive through the Seminoles' half for Florida's final goal landed at No. 3 on the Aug. 23 ESPN SportsCenter Top 10.
Florida's Last Match:
Florida earned its first top-10 win since 2017 on Aug. 23, defeating then-No. T3 and defending NCAA champion Florida State 3-1 at Dizney Stadium.
The victory was Florida's first against a top-10 opponent since a 3-2 win over No. 1 Stanford on Aug. 25, 2017. It also marked the Gators' first victory against a defending NCAA champion since defeating Florida State 3-2 on Aug. 30, 2015.
The win was the first against a ranked opponent for Florida head coach Nick Zimmerman and the win came in his third match leading the Gators.
For the second consecutive match, Kyra Taylor provided Florida's first two goals. Her first came off a corner kick sent in by Mia Gray in the 22nd minute. Taylor struck again in the 62nd. Zoe Main carried the ball down the right side and, just before reaching the top of the box, found Taylor, who extended her left foot to direct the ball inside the near post for a 2-0 Florida lead.
The Gators added their third goal in the 79th minute. Tatum Borman won the ball just inside Florida's half and played it into space for Montelene Dymond. The senior carried the ball through the Seminoles' half, beat the goalkeeper and slotted home her first goal as a Gator.
Florida goalkeeper Jayden Emmanuel came up with another key one-on-one play in the 24th minute. Florida State's Shaneil Buckley broke free on a 70-yard run and carried the ball into the box. Emmanuel came off her line, cut down Buckley's angle and made the save. It was Emmanuel's first start of the season.
Florida State got on the board in the 83rd minute. Ryder Ajeto's first touch in the box was deflected by a Florida defender, but Ajeto followed the ball and scored from eight yards for the final 3-1 margin.
About Upcoming Opponents:
About Jacksonville (1-0-1, 0-0 ASUN)
Jacksonville posted a 9-5-5 record in 2025 and tied for second in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 6-1-3 league mark. The Dolphins are picked third in the 2026 ASUN preseason coaches poll.
JU opened the season Aug. 12 with a 2-0 home win over Miami and played Georgia Southern to a scoreless tie Aug. 20. Jacksonville's Aug. 16 match at Charleston Southern was canceled due to weather.
Three Jacksonville defenders earned 2025 ASUN recognition — senior Paula Herranz (second team), junior Lina Ballmann (third team) and sophomore Frida Johansson (All-Freshman). Herranz is the ASUN preseason selection for 2026 Player and Defender of the Year. She was joined on the Preseason All-ASUN Team by sophomore forward Julia Delprat.
Junior goalkeeper Taylor Gardner is the ASUN Goalkeeper of the Week. She has not allowed a goal this season after playing all 180 minutes of Jacksonville's first two matches.
About Florida Atlantic (0-2-1, 0-0 American)
Florida Atlantic posted a 4-12-3 record in 2025 and finished 10th in the American Conference with a 1-7-2 league mark. The Owls are picked 10th in the conference's 2026 preseason coaches poll.
FAU opened the season Aug. 12 with a 1-1 home tie against FIU before dropping 3-0 decisions to Miami and then-No. T3 Florida State. The Owls play host to Howard on Aug. 27 before facing the Gators.
Junior forward Hailey Santiago earned 2025 All-American third-team honors after finishing second among the Owls with six goals and 14 points. Isabel Bostic was named to the 2025 American All-Freshman Team.
The Gators wrap up a three-match homestand Thursday, Aug. 27, when undefeated Jacksonville visits Donald R. Dizney Stadium. Florida then heads south for a road match at Florida Atlantic to close the season's first month of action.
Thursday, Aug. 27 versus Jacksonville
Time/Site: 6:30 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium
Streaming Video: SEC Network + Announcers: Ryan Urquhart and Matthew Stubbington
ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM WRUF Announcers: Nevada Cullen and Lance Williams calling the action
Live Stats
Admission: Free
Promotions: Staff Appreciation Night - Gators Soccer celebrates UF faculty and staff at The Diz! Join us as we recognize the people who make the University of Florida special, then cheer on the Gators as they take on Jacksonville!
Admission is free for all Gator soccer regular-season home matches. 2026 Florida Soccer Promotions
Sunday, Aug. 30 at Florida Atlantic
Time/Site: 2 p.m. at FAU Soccer Stadium
TV: ESPN +
Live Stats
Florida Back in Top 25:
Following a pair of wins, including a 3-1 victory over defending NCAA champion Florida State, the Gators returned to the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 this week at No. 20 in the Week 2 poll.
The ranking marks Florida's first appearance in the coaches poll since Week 3 of the 2020 season. The Gators went 81 consecutive polls without appearing in the Top 25.
Florida's return also carries a bit of program symmetry.
Thirty years ago, the Gators made their first appearance in the coaches poll during the program's second season. Florida entered the Week 2 poll of the 1996 campaign at No. 20 — the same position UF holds this week.
Weekly Honors for a Pair of Gators:
A pair of Gators picked up Southeastern Conference weekly honors following Florida's two-win week. Kyra Taylor is the SEC Offensive Player of the Week, while Jayden Emmanuel is the SEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Taylor added national recognition as the TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week after scoring two goals in each of Florida's last two matches.
The scorer of the Gators' third goal against Florida State also earned a spot in the national spotlight. Senior Montelene Dymond's drive through the Seminoles' half for Florida's final goal landed at No. 3 on the Aug. 23 ESPN SportsCenter Top 10.
Florida's Last Match:
Florida earned its first top-10 win since 2017 on Aug. 23, defeating then-No. T3 and defending NCAA champion Florida State 3-1 at Dizney Stadium.
The victory was Florida's first against a top-10 opponent since a 3-2 win over No. 1 Stanford on Aug. 25, 2017. It also marked the Gators' first victory against a defending NCAA champion since defeating Florida State 3-2 on Aug. 30, 2015.
The win was the first against a ranked opponent for Florida head coach Nick Zimmerman and the win came in his third match leading the Gators.
For the second consecutive match, Kyra Taylor provided Florida's first two goals. Her first came off a corner kick sent in by Mia Gray in the 22nd minute. Taylor struck again in the 62nd. Zoe Main carried the ball down the right side and, just before reaching the top of the box, found Taylor, who extended her left foot to direct the ball inside the near post for a 2-0 Florida lead.
The Gators added their third goal in the 79th minute. Tatum Borman won the ball just inside Florida's half and played it into space for Montelene Dymond. The senior carried the ball through the Seminoles' half, beat the goalkeeper and slotted home her first goal as a Gator.
Florida goalkeeper Jayden Emmanuel came up with another key one-on-one play in the 24th minute. Florida State's Shaneil Buckley broke free on a 70-yard run and carried the ball into the box. Emmanuel came off her line, cut down Buckley's angle and made the save. It was Emmanuel's first start of the season.
Florida State got on the board in the 83rd minute. Ryder Ajeto's first touch in the box was deflected by a Florida defender, but Ajeto followed the ball and scored from eight yards for the final 3-1 margin.
About Upcoming Opponents:
About Jacksonville (1-0-1, 0-0 ASUN)
Jacksonville posted a 9-5-5 record in 2025 and tied for second in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 6-1-3 league mark. The Dolphins are picked third in the 2026 ASUN preseason coaches poll.
JU opened the season Aug. 12 with a 2-0 home win over Miami and played Georgia Southern to a scoreless tie Aug. 20. Jacksonville's Aug. 16 match at Charleston Southern was canceled due to weather.
Three Jacksonville defenders earned 2025 ASUN recognition — senior Paula Herranz (second team), junior Lina Ballmann (third team) and sophomore Frida Johansson (All-Freshman). Herranz is the ASUN preseason selection for 2026 Player and Defender of the Year. She was joined on the Preseason All-ASUN Team by sophomore forward Julia Delprat.
Junior goalkeeper Taylor Gardner is the ASUN Goalkeeper of the Week. She has not allowed a goal this season after playing all 180 minutes of Jacksonville's first two matches.
About Florida Atlantic (0-2-1, 0-0 American)
Florida Atlantic posted a 4-12-3 record in 2025 and finished 10th in the American Conference with a 1-7-2 league mark. The Owls are picked 10th in the conference's 2026 preseason coaches poll.
FAU opened the season Aug. 12 with a 1-1 home tie against FIU before dropping 3-0 decisions to Miami and then-No. T3 Florida State. The Owls play host to Howard on Aug. 27 before facing the Gators.
Junior forward Hailey Santiago earned 2025 All-American third-team honors after finishing second among the Owls with six goals and 14 points. Isabel Bostic was named to the 2025 American All-Freshman Team.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Soccer
GK
/ SoccerTuesday, August 25
Sunday, August 23
Sunday, August 23
Friday, August 21
