ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Three goals from junior Lindsay Thompson sends the No. 7 Florida soccer team to the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship match after the Gators posted a 3-1 win over Georgia in the tournament’s semifinal round Friday at the Orange Beach SportsPlex.
Florida (17-2-2, 9-1-1 SEC) will now face No. 17 South Carolina (14-4-4, 8-2-1 SEC) in Sunday’s final match, which is set to air live on ESPNU at 3 p.m. The Gamecocks, the defending SEC Tournament champions, advanced to the final with a 3-2 penalty kick advantage after playing LSU to a 1-1 double overtime tie.
The initial goals for both teams came within a 30-second span in the opening half. Freshman Alexa Newfield tucked in a cross from Rebekah Perry in at the far post at 6:02 for the only goal for Georgia (11-6-4, 5-3-3 SEC).
Then, Erika Tymrak fed a cross into the box where the sliding foot of Thompson placed it in at the far post at 6:29.
Thompson tallied her second goal of the half in the 26th minute when she headed the ball in off a pass from McKenzie Barney.
Florida’s final goal came in the 88th minute off a counter attack where Thompson got the ball in a one-on-one opportunity against Georgia.
