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The 14th ranked Florida Gator soccer team defeated the top-ranked Florida State Seminoles at James G Pressly stadium Sunday afternoon 3-2. This moves the Gators to 3-1 on the season.
Florida got out to a quick start in this game; junior forward Savannah Jordan netted her fifth goal of the season in the 18th minute off a pass from freshmen Sarah Troccoli. Jordan is coming off game against Miami where she earned her second career hat trick.
Jordan talks about how big it was to open up the scoring for Florida.
“I think our team started out really, really strong. Everybody was really pumped up for the game, and I think because it was FSU, everyone was really excited playing for a big home crowd. It was a great build-up, a great pass by Sarah, and honestly I just hit it across the goal and hoped it went in back post. It was a great ball into me.”
Florida wouldn’t slow down either as freshmen Sarah Troccoli added a goal of her own three minutes later via a corner kick. This was her first career start and second straight game she scored a goal.
The Gators had an opportunity to push the lead to 3-0 on a penalty kick but Jordan would nail the crossbar. Junior Pamela Begic would take a penalty kick of her own in the 42nd minute and put it in the back of the net to extend Florida’s lead.
Florida State would lead the attack in the second half getting two goals but it would not be enough, as the Gators would hold on for the win. This victory puts the Gators to 13-10 all time against the Seminoles. Florida is also the only team to beat Florida State in their last 63 matches (beat them 2-1 last season).
Gator head coach Becky Burleigh gives her thoughts on the victory.
“I really don’t think it was a tale of two halves, I think it’s just a case of where we did a great job of execution in the first half and scored some goals. They scored some on a couple of pieces that we still need to clean up a little bit that part of our game. But it was more us keeping the ball in the first half, having possession and making them chase. In the second, I think we were a little lax in that. We gave them some opportunities by just turning the ball over.”
Up next for the Orange and Blue is a home match against Oklahoma State this Friday. Match time is set for 7 p.m.
To hear sound from the match click below:
