Florida faces its first top-10 opponent of the 2013 season Friday when No. 3 Florida State visits the James G. Pressly Stadium. This is the fourth time in the last five meetings between the intrastate rivals that both bring a top-10 ranking into the match.
The match is the first of nine regular-season matches to be televised in 2013 and Fridays match will air on SUN Sports.
Last Week:
Both teams opened their seasons last weekend with a pair of home wins. The Gators used 3-1 scores to take wins versus both Florida Gulf Coast and Oregon State. In Fridays match with FGCU, junior Havana Solaun scored the seasons first goal in the 35th minute but the Eagles tied the match just before halftime off a corner kick score. The match remained tied until the 81st minute when freshman Savannah Jordans eight-yard shot found the far corner. She also put in an insurance goal in the 86th minute when an Eagle defender couldnt clear a Caroline Triglia shot off the line.
Jordan provided all the Gator scoring Sunday versus Oregon State. She now joins Florida All-Americans Andi Sellers (two in 1997) and Abby Wambach (one in 1998) as the only Gators to post a hat-trick as a freshman. Two matches into her collegiate career and Jordan now owns five goals the highest goal total for any Gator through a seasons opening two contests.
Her performance earned her both the Disney Soccer/National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and Top Drawer Soccer national player of the week honors. She also was the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week selection.
FSU defeated Oregon State 1-0 in a weather-delayed match last Friday in Tallahassee. The only goal came in the 43rd minute when FSU sophomore Nora Kervroedan put in a deflected shot. It was the 31st shutout for Seminole senior goalkeeper Kelsey Wys. Sunday, the Seminoles claimed a 4-1 victory over Auburn. Redshirt freshman Berglind Thorvaldsdottir turned in two goals Sunday. She had a hand in the three goals scored in the run of play as she also assisted on Jamia Fields goal. Kervroedan earned her second goal of the weekend off a penalty kick.
Preseason Conference Votes:
Both Florida and Florida State won their conference titles in 2012.
Florida Gators are picked to take second in the Southeastern Conference. Texas A&M topped the coaches vote for 2013 league title.
FSU The Seminoles are slated to finish second in the Atlantic Coast Conference behind defending NCAA champion North Carolina.
Becky Burleigh Says:
What I love about the FSU game is that it is always a really fun game because it is a pretty respectful rivalry. Both teams appreciate the way each others team plays. It is always a battle and it always seems like it is a one-goal game. It is just going to be fun and everyone is looking forward to it.
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 8 on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll and Florida State is No. 3.
