Five different Gators scored Sunday, as the No. 9 Florida soccer team (5-2, 0-0 SEC) posted a 5-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast University (5-3, 0-0 Atlantic Sun) in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
In Florida’s last outing on Friday, the Gators lost 3-2 to No. 5 Florida State. UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh wanted to see how the Gators would come out today after Friday’s battle.
“The big question in this game was going to be, “How do we bounce back after such an emotional game like Friday?” and I thought that we responded really well,” Burleigh said. “To come out with four goals in the first half, and to dominate the way we did, was a really good testament to the leadership on our team.”
The four goals in the opening half were the most for the Gators since its 7-1 win versus Mississippi State on Oct. 1, 2010, when UF also scored four in the first 45 minutes.
A pair of freshmen paired up for Florida’s first goal. The play started when Kathryn Williamson continued her run through the middle of the field and received the ball as she moved by the midfield circle. Williamson sent the ball to Jillian Graff who was running down the left sideline. Graff took the ball to the end line, sending it to Tessa Andujar at the corner of the box. Andujar moved across the top of the box before sending a right-footed shot into the net at 7:32.
“I saw Jillian going down line so I dropped back and she gave me a great ball,” Andujar said. “I just saw the opening to shoot and I did. It was lucky that it went in.”
A give-and-go resulted in Erika Tymrak scoring her team-leading fifth goal of the season in the 16th minute. Tymrak received the ball off a throw-in and moved from the right sideline to just above the box, sending the ball to Tahnai Annis. Annis sent a square ball immediately back to Tymrak. As Tymrak crossed the top of the box, she took one touch and sent the ball into the goal from 10 yards.
Freshman Lauren Silver notched her first Gator goal in the 24th minute. Tymrak, located in the middle of the Eagle half, sent the ball left to Annie Speese. She immediately passed the ball to Silver who was just above the FGCU box. Silver took a touch down the side of the box before launching a curving shot which scored at the far post upper corner.
Florida’s final goal of the opening half started with Speese bringing the ball through the center of the Eagle half. She sent the ball forward to Taylor Travis at the top of the goal. Both Carolyn Triglia and Speese made runs into the top of the box and the square ball played by Travis found the foot of Triglia. She placed a hard, left-footed shot into the upper far corner for her second collegiate goal and first of 2011.
The second half score came when freshman Kim Sapienza broke up an Eagle throw-in at midfield. She sent the ball forward to Speese moving through the upper section of the Eagle half. Speese one-touched the ball, which rolled down the center of the box where Lindsay Thompson was able to fend off a pair of Eagle defenders to score from 10 yards in the 58th minute.
