The
first goal for junior transfer Adriana
Leon is golden as the No. 22 University of Florida soccer team (4-3-1,
1-1 SEC) claimed a 2-1 overtime win at Auburn (4-5-1, 0-2 SEC) Sunday afternoon
in front of a AU Soccer Complex crowd of 831.
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Did You Know…
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Junior
Adriana Leon’s overtime winner today makes her the third player in the
18-year history of the program to score a golden goal as their first as a
Gator.
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Leon,
who joined the Gator team this fall after playing for Notre Dame the last two
seasons, ended the match with just 32 second remaining in the first overtime.
The play started after an exchange of glances between Leon and Erika
Tymrak led to a quick free kick after Auburn committed a foul above
their box.
“Erika
and I made some eye contact. We knew the pass was on,” Leon said. “No one was
around me so she played the ball quickly off the free kick. I just turned and
saw the shot was open and I took it.”
Leon’s
18-yard shot scored at the far post to finish Florida’s come-from-behind
effort. She is the first since Taylor
Travis in the 2010 opener versus Miami to have their first Gator goal
be golden.
The
Gators found themselves behind early Sunday. AU’s Tatiana Coleman, from deep in
the Florida half, crossed the ball into the middle of the box. Mary Coffed
one-touched the ball into the far post to score her third goal of the season.
A
free kick goal in the 72nd minute tied the match at 1-all. The Gators were
awarded the free kick about 30 yards above the Tiger goal. Jo
Dragotta sent the ball into the six-yard box where it knocked around
until fellow senior Holly
King put it in.
“Jo
gave a great ball into the box. I think I brought it down with my thigh past
the defender,” King said. “It was right in front of the keeper so I just
toe-poked it right under her at the near post.”
It
was the second consecutive Sunday the two seniors synced up for a goal as the
duo also combined on a free kick to provide Florida’s final score in a 3-2 win
over New Mexico. Sunday’s goal was King’s second of the season.
