Next up is a rematch of
the 2011 SEC Tournament final, as Auburn upset No. 12 Texas A&M 2-0
in the first semifinal of the day. The Tigers defeated Florida 3-2 in
the 2011 final. This will be the 14th SEC Tournament appearance for
Florida (16-4-1, 11-2 SEC), which leads the league with nine tournament
titles.
A 40-second span in the
first half led to the Gators opening a 2-0 lead. A pass from the end
line by senior All-American Erika Tymrak found sophomore Havana Solaun
about eight yards above the far post. She hit a one-timer to put the
Gators on the board at 18:09.
Then the pair reversed roles.
Soon after the kickoff,
the Gators gained control and moved the ball into the Tiger half.
Solaun, from deep in the Tiger half, sent a ball to Tymrak at the top of
the box. She struck a 17-yard shot to the far post upper corner for her
seventh goal of the season.
The goal was the seventh for Tymrak, moving her into a tie for the Gators' season lead with fellow senior Jo Dragotta.
Those quick goals
weren't the only fireworks of the opening half. A total of six cards
were handed out in the first 45 minutes, with the Tigers (14-7, 8-5 SEC)
on the receiving end of five of them. Missouri head coach Bryan Blitz
was ejected at 23:44 after receiving his second yellow card.
Florida pushed the lead
to 3-0 in the 57th minute when a pair of All-SEC first-team selections
connected on a set piece. The Gators were awarded a free kick about 27
yards above the MU goal. Dragotta's low kick was touched in by Holly
King at the far post for her fifth goal of the season.
