COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 23 Florida soccer opened Southeastern Conference play with a 1-0 loss to No. 19 South Carolina on Thursday night in front of 3,750 at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium.
South Carolina's Reese Slater scored the match's only goal in the 40th minute. Autumn Cayelli's shot was deflected, sending the ball across the box to Slater, who finished from 12 yards.
Florida (19-9-4 all-time in SEC openers) created several of its best first-half opportunities in the final five minutes.
Zoe Main's strike clipped the crossbar before she sent an angled shot from inside the box just wide of the far post three minutes later. The Gators generated four shots in the final 20 seconds of the half, including attempts by Tatum Borman and Main that South Carolina goalkeeper Christina Tsaousis saved in the final four seconds.
Florida continued to generate chances but could not find the equalizer. The Gators finished with a 15-10 advantage in shots, while each team put three shots on goal.
The Sept. 8 United Soccer Coaches Poll includes six SEC teams. Florida-South Carolina was the conference's only opening match featuring two ranked teams.
Coach Zimmerman Said
"Always a very tough place to play. South Carolina doesn't concede many goals and this was a great environment for our young group to experience. Lot of credit to South Carolina. We will recover and we will go again as we prepare for another very good opponent next week." — Florida head coach Nick Zimmerman
In Honor
Florida players and staff wore black tape Thursday with messages of support for UF alumnus and Gator soccer supporter Mario Lamar. His parents, Mario and Lili Lamar, and his niece Sofia and nephew Christian Sosa were killed in a Labor Day plane crash near the Bahamas.
Records Florida: 4-3-1, 0-1-0 SEC South Carolina: 7-1-0, 1-0-0 SEC
Series
Florida leads 22-14-4
Next Up
Florida continues SEC road action Friday, Sept. 18 at Mississippi State (6-1, 0-0 SEC). The Bulldogs open SEC play tomorrow at Mississippi.
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