Thursday, September 24
Gainesville, FL
6 p.m.
Florida Gators
vs
Texas
Florida faces the SEC's Lone Star State opponents this week. First, Texas visits Dizney Stadium on Thursday and then UF travels to College Station to face Texas A&M. [Photo: Maddie Washburn]
Florida Faces Pair of Lone Star State Foes
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida (4-3-2, 0-1-1 SEC) faces a pair of Lone Star State opponents this weekend, hosting Texas on Thursday before traveling to College Station to meet Texas A&M on Sunday.
The weekend continues a stretch of three consecutive matches against teams led by first-year head coaches, including Florida's Nick Zimmerman. The stretch began Friday, when Florida played to a 2-2 draw at Mississippi State under first-year coach Kevin O'Brien. Texas' Margueritte Bates and Texas A&M's Bobby Shuttleworth also are in their first seasons leading their programs.
Thursday, Sept. 24 versus RV Texas (5-2-2, 0-1-1 SEC)
Time/Site: 6 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: Sky Lebron and Nevada Cullen
Live Stats
Admission: Free
Promotions: Fall Wardrobe Addition: The first day of fall is Tuesday, Sept. 22. Be among the first 250 fans Thursday to get a Gator scarf to prepare for the coming cooler temperatures; Pack in Style: Enter to win BEIS luggage carry-on starter set; Dazzling Halftime: The Gator Dazzlers will perform at halftime
Admission is free for all Gator soccer regular-season home matches. 2026 Florida Soccer Promotions
Sunday, Sept. 27 at Texas A&M (4-5-0, 0-2-0 SEC)
Time/Site: 3 p.m. ET at Ellis Field
Streaming Video: SEC Network+
Live Stats
Admission: $6-$20
Did You Know?
Florida is the only Southeastern Conference program with a win versus a team ranked in the Sept. 22 United Soccer Coaches top-25 poll.
The Gators' schedule ranks No. 13 on the Sept. 21 NCAA Toughest Schedules rankings. The only SEC program ahead of Florida is LSU at No. 9. Other SEC schedules in the top 20 of the NCAA's Toughest Schedules are Texas (No. 14) and Arkansas (No. 17).
Florida's Last Match
Florida soccer scored twice in the second half to earn a 2-2 draw at Mississippi State on Sept. 18 in front of a season-high crowd of 1,064 at the MSU Soccer Field.
Mississippi State scored the only goal of the opening half in the 11th minute. Kara Harris' shot from distance hit the crossbar and bounced back into play, where Hailey Johnson headed it in from six yards to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
Florida came out on the attack in the second half. Freshman Mia Gray sent an angled shot toward the far post in the 49th minute. The ball deflected off a Mississippi State defender before Bulldogs goalkeeper Jenny Harrison ended the threat.
The Gators pulled even in the 60th minute after video review determined Mississippi State committed a handball in the box. Junior Skye Barnes converted the ensuing penalty kick for her first goal of the season. It was Florida's second successful penalty kick of the season. Hannah Jibril converted the Gators' first in the season opener at UCF.
Mississippi State regained the lead in the 64th minute. Chiara Tappe's free kick found Eden Nicholson at the far post, and Nicholson headed the ball in from six yards for a 2-1 advantage.
Kyra Taylor scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season to tie the match in the 78th minute. Adia Symmonds sent Florida's eighth corner kick of the match into the middle of the box, where Lena Bailey and a pair of Mississippi State defenders battled for the ball. It popped out near the top of the box and Norah Abbott sent it back into traffic. Taylor finished from six yards to make it 2-2.
Florida had one final opportunity to claim the win in the closing seconds, but Harrison saved Symmonds' shot with less than 15 seconds remaining.
About Upcoming Opponents
Texas
Texas posted a 4-12-1 record in 2025 and was 14th in the Southeastern Conference with a 2-8-0 league mark. Margueritte Bates left UCLA after four seasons leading the Bruins to take over at Texas on November 25, 2025.
The Longhorns have faced two top-25 teams in 2026, defeating then No. 19 TCU 1-0 and tying No. 8 Tennessee last Friday 2-2. Ava McDonald (three goals, two assists) and Amalia Villarreal (four goals) lead Texas with eight points apiece. Senior Bayliss Flynn has started every match in goal for the Longhorns and owns a goals-against average of 0.94. Sophomore Mya Brandon is the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring her first collegiate goal and earning an assist in Texas' last match, a 2-2 draw with No. 8 Tennessee.
Two Longhorns are on MAC Hermann Trophy watch list for 2026 – Hannah Tate and McDonald, who was the 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year.
Texas A&M
Texas A&M posted a 5-7-5 record in 2025 and was 13th in the Southeastern Conference with a 2-6-2 league mark. Bobby Shuttleworth left Florida State after four seasons – including the last two as associate head coach – the day after FSU won the 2025 NCAA title.
The Aggies have faced two ranked teams in 2026, losing to both then No. 19 TCU 3-0 and at No. 2 Vanderbilt last Friday 5-0. Ireland Churchill leads Texas A&M in goals (7) and points (16). Freshman Makenna August has started every match in goal for the Aggies and owns a goals-against average of 1.67.
Senior midfielder Bella Carapazza, who joined the Aggies this season after three seasons at Lipscomb, appears on the 2026 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list.
The weekend continues a stretch of three consecutive matches against teams led by first-year head coaches, including Florida's Nick Zimmerman. The stretch began Friday, when Florida played to a 2-2 draw at Mississippi State under first-year coach Kevin O'Brien. Texas' Margueritte Bates and Texas A&M's Bobby Shuttleworth also are in their first seasons leading their programs.
Thursday, Sept. 24 versus RV Texas (5-2-2, 0-1-1 SEC)
Time/Site: 6 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: Sky Lebron and Nevada Cullen
Live Stats
Admission: Free
Promotions: Fall Wardrobe Addition: The first day of fall is Tuesday, Sept. 22. Be among the first 250 fans Thursday to get a Gator scarf to prepare for the coming cooler temperatures; Pack in Style: Enter to win BEIS luggage carry-on starter set; Dazzling Halftime: The Gator Dazzlers will perform at halftime
Admission is free for all Gator soccer regular-season home matches. 2026 Florida Soccer Promotions
Sunday, Sept. 27 at Texas A&M (4-5-0, 0-2-0 SEC)
Time/Site: 3 p.m. ET at Ellis Field
Streaming Video: SEC Network+
Live Stats
Admission: $6-$20
Did You Know?
Florida is the only Southeastern Conference program with a win versus a team ranked in the Sept. 22 United Soccer Coaches top-25 poll.
The Gators' schedule ranks No. 13 on the Sept. 21 NCAA Toughest Schedules rankings. The only SEC program ahead of Florida is LSU at No. 9. Other SEC schedules in the top 20 of the NCAA's Toughest Schedules are Texas (No. 14) and Arkansas (No. 17).
| SEC vs Sept. 22 United Soccer Coaches Top 25 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School | 9/24 Opponent | Ranked Wins | Ranked Losses | Ranked Tied |
| Alabama | ||||
| Arkansas | Baylor, UNC, ALA | |||
| Auburn | ALA | |||
| Florida | FSU | UCF, WFU, USC | ||
| Georgia | FSU, OU | VU | ||
| Kentucky | USC | OhSt | ||
| LSU | OU | WFU, UCF, Baylor, TN, USC | ||
| Mississippi | VU | |||
| MSU | TN | |||
| Missouri | OU | |||
| Oklahoma | BYU | |||
| South Carolina | WFU | |||
| Tennessee | UVa | |||
| Texas | Baylor | TN | ||
| TAMU | ALA | Baylor, TX St, VU | ||
| Vanderbilt | ||||
Florida's Last Match
Florida soccer scored twice in the second half to earn a 2-2 draw at Mississippi State on Sept. 18 in front of a season-high crowd of 1,064 at the MSU Soccer Field.
Mississippi State scored the only goal of the opening half in the 11th minute. Kara Harris' shot from distance hit the crossbar and bounced back into play, where Hailey Johnson headed it in from six yards to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
Florida came out on the attack in the second half. Freshman Mia Gray sent an angled shot toward the far post in the 49th minute. The ball deflected off a Mississippi State defender before Bulldogs goalkeeper Jenny Harrison ended the threat.
The Gators pulled even in the 60th minute after video review determined Mississippi State committed a handball in the box. Junior Skye Barnes converted the ensuing penalty kick for her first goal of the season. It was Florida's second successful penalty kick of the season. Hannah Jibril converted the Gators' first in the season opener at UCF.
Mississippi State regained the lead in the 64th minute. Chiara Tappe's free kick found Eden Nicholson at the far post, and Nicholson headed the ball in from six yards for a 2-1 advantage.
Kyra Taylor scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season to tie the match in the 78th minute. Adia Symmonds sent Florida's eighth corner kick of the match into the middle of the box, where Lena Bailey and a pair of Mississippi State defenders battled for the ball. It popped out near the top of the box and Norah Abbott sent it back into traffic. Taylor finished from six yards to make it 2-2.
Florida had one final opportunity to claim the win in the closing seconds, but Harrison saved Symmonds' shot with less than 15 seconds remaining.
About Upcoming Opponents
Texas
Texas posted a 4-12-1 record in 2025 and was 14th in the Southeastern Conference with a 2-8-0 league mark. Margueritte Bates left UCLA after four seasons leading the Bruins to take over at Texas on November 25, 2025.
The Longhorns have faced two top-25 teams in 2026, defeating then No. 19 TCU 1-0 and tying No. 8 Tennessee last Friday 2-2. Ava McDonald (three goals, two assists) and Amalia Villarreal (four goals) lead Texas with eight points apiece. Senior Bayliss Flynn has started every match in goal for the Longhorns and owns a goals-against average of 0.94. Sophomore Mya Brandon is the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week after scoring her first collegiate goal and earning an assist in Texas' last match, a 2-2 draw with No. 8 Tennessee.
Two Longhorns are on MAC Hermann Trophy watch list for 2026 – Hannah Tate and McDonald, who was the 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year.
Texas A&M
Texas A&M posted a 5-7-5 record in 2025 and was 13th in the Southeastern Conference with a 2-6-2 league mark. Bobby Shuttleworth left Florida State after four seasons – including the last two as associate head coach – the day after FSU won the 2025 NCAA title.
The Aggies have faced two ranked teams in 2026, losing to both then No. 19 TCU 3-0 and at No. 2 Vanderbilt last Friday 5-0. Ireland Churchill leads Texas A&M in goals (7) and points (16). Freshman Makenna August has started every match in goal for the Aggies and owns a goals-against average of 1.67.
Senior midfielder Bella Carapazza, who joined the Aggies this season after three seasons at Lipscomb, appears on the 2026 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, September 24
Thursday, September 24
Tuesday, September 22
Tuesday, September 08
