The No. 15 UCLA (3-0, 0-0-0 Pac 12) soccer team handed No. 8 Florida (3-1-0, 0-0 SEC) its first loss, a 2-0 decision, in the final match of the First Tennessee Lady Vol Classic held Sunday at the Regal Soccer Stadium.
The only goal of the opening half came in the 35th minute when Kylie McCarthy, from about 10 yards above the box, sent a through ball into the box. Ally Courtnall caught up with the ball and placed in her first goal of the season to the far post corner from 14 yards.
UCLA’s second goal came when Sarah Killion intercepted a Gator clearance attempt. The ball she sent forward found the foot of All-American Sydney Leroux. She tucked it in the short shot at the near post corner at 71:30
“I’m disappointed that we lost, but was encouraged by a lot of things that we saw,” UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh said. “One goal was off a turnover once again so that is obviously something that we’ve got to spend some time on. I think that we are capable of cleaning some of that up. This is just a step in the progress.
“We had great chance and ultimately, you’ve got to stick those chances,” she continued. “It was great to see that we can create opportunities against a team the quality of UCLA but the next step is finishing those chances”
Opportunities to score were present for the Gators on Sunday. A through ball nearly resulted in a goal for the Gators in the 22nd minute. Tessa Andujar sent a ball into the box for McKenzie Barney making a run down the left side of the box. UCLA goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland stopped the chance.
In the second half, the Gators had a handful of opportunities to score. In the 51st minute, a ball off a corner kick found Havana Solaun deep in the box. Sarah Chapman couldn’t quite tuck the pass from Solaun in at the near post corner. A couple of minutes later, Solaun sent a ball forward into the box, but Barney couldn’t get control to get off a clean shot. Lindsay Thompson saw her shot go just wide of the post off a ball sent forward in the 65th minute. The last good look came with three minutes remaining when Erika Tymrak evaded several defenders to slide the ball forward to Taylor Travis making a run in the box, but the keeper stopped the play.
Three Gators were named to the First Tennessee Lady Vol Classic All-Tournament team – Jazmyne Avant, Tymrak and Kathryn Williamson.
The Gators now open the home season on Friday, Sept. 2 with Texas Tech. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at the James G. Pressly Stadium. Admission is free for all 2011 Gator soccer regular-season matches.
Gator All-Americans and 2011 U.S. World Cup players Heather Mitts and Abby Wambach will sign autographs post-match Friday. Also, the first 1,000 fans Friday receive a fall schedule key tag courtesy of Sun Sports. Don’t miss the halftime show of the Soccer Collies, where the canine duo will showcase their soccer playing skills.
