The University of Florida soccer team (18-2-2, 9-1-1 SEC) plays host to NCAA First and Second Round action Friday, Nov. 12 and Sunday, Nov. 14. Action begins Friday at the James G. Pressly Stadium with Florida facing Mercer at 6 p.m. Duke versus California match follows at 8:30 p.m. Florida is a No. 2 seed for the 2010 NCAA Championship.
| NCAA Soccer Championship Information - Gainesville, Fla., Site |
| Match Times: Friday, Nov. 12 |
| 6 p.m. - Florida (18-2-2) versus Mercer (10-8-1) |
| 8:30 p.m. – California (9-5-5) versus Duke (10-7-3) |
| Sunday, Nov. 14 |
| 1 p.m.: Winner of M1 vs. Winner of M2 |
| Tickets: $7.00 adults |
| $3.00 children 12 & under, students and senior citizens |
| First 200 UF students with identification are admitted free |
| For more information, contact the UAA Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, ext. 6800 or 1-800-34GATOR, ext. 6800 (state of Florida only) |
UF is one of 16 programs playing host to 2010 NCAA First and Second round action this weekend. The winners of Friday's matches meet on Sunday, Nov. 14 for the NCAA Second Round. Second round action at the Gainesville site begins at 1 p.m.
The winner of Sunday's match advances to the NCAA Round of 16, which will take place Nov. 19, 20 or 21. NCAA Quarterfinal action is the following weekend (Nov. 26, 27 or 28). The NCAA College Cup is set for Dec. 3 and 5 at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., with NC State, Town of Cary and Capital Area Soccer League acting as hosts for the event.
Friday's meeting will be the second between Florida and Mercer and first since 1996.
Florida advanced to its 14th NCAA Championship with a 1-0 win over South Carolina in yesterday’s Southeastern Conference Tournament final in Orange Beach, Ala. As the tournament champion, Florida received one of the 30 automatic berths into the field of 64. In last year’s NCAA action, Florida reached the second round, falling in overtime 1-0 to Oregon State. Florida has played host to at least one round of NCAA Championship action 12 of the 14 seasons the team has received a NCAA berth.
Florida is 4-2-1 against teams in the 2010 tournament field. The Gators have registered wins at No. 2 seed Florida State (Sept. 10), at No. 4 seed UCF (Aug. 22) and posted a pair of wins versus South Carolina (Oct. 29 and Nov. 7). UF has losses versus No. 1 seed North Carolina (Sept. 19) and at Auburn (Oct. 10). Duke and Florida played to a tie on Sept. 17. Three SEC teams received bids – Florida, Auburn and South Carolina.
| About the opponents: |
| Mercer (10-8-1, 7-3 Atlantic Sun) makes its first NCAA appearance in 2010. The Bears won the Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship with a 1-0 decision over Jacksonville to claim its first A-Sun Tournament title and take the league’s automatic NCAA berth. Senior Kacie Hudson, the younger sister of former Gator All-SEC performer and current UF team manager KeLeigh Hudson, leads the Bears with 13 points off of six goals and one assist. |
| California (9-5-5, 4-4-1 Pac 10) is making its 18th NCAA appearance and seventh consecutive. The Bears have played in the state of Florida for five of the past six NCAA Championships. In 2008, the Bears lost to then-No. 7-seed Florida in Gainesville. Cal traveled to Tallahassee for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament last season and in 2006, as well as the third round in 2005. Senior Alex Morgan, a member of the U.S. Senior National Team, leads the Golden Bears with 14 goals and 29 points. |
| Duke (10-7-3, 4-5-1 ACC) advances to its 17th overall and eighth consecutive NCAA Championship. In the Blue Devils’ last outing, they lost 1-0 to No. 1 seed Maryland in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Florida and Duke played to a 1-1 double overtime tie in the opening day of the Duke Nike Classic in Durham, N.C., on Sept. 17. Freshman Mollie Pathman leads the team with 21 points off of eight goals and five assists. |
