Tennessee Defeats Florida Soccer 2-1

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A goal in each half gave Tennessee a 2-1 win over Florida Friday evening in the Gators’ 2020 home finale at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

Last Sunday in Florida’s 4-2 loss at No. 11 South Carolina, Florida left seven players – and their head coach – in Gainesville due to injuries or COVID-19 protocol. Today, the Gators welcomed back Georgia Eaton-Collins and Ashlyn Kane but were still without Coach Becky Burleigh and five players – Carina Baltrip-Reyes, Ava Kuyken, Kit Loferski, Kouri Peace and Deanne Rose.

Friday’s scoring:

Tennessee scored in the 27th minute when Claudia Dipasupil stepped in front of a Gator clearance attempt. Dipasupil took a couple of touches toward goal before launching a 25-yard left-footed shot that dipped under the crossbar for her first score of the season.

Jaida Thomas pushed the lead out to 2-0 with her near-post header off Dipasupil’s corner kick in the 70th minute.

Freshman Maddy Rhodes’ far post header off a Parker Roberts corner kick in the 81st minute added to the Gators’ second-half push but UF couldn’t find the equalizer.

Gators had a few opportunities earlier in the match. In the 49th minute, Rhodes shot in the box kicked off the near post. In the 62nd minute, a pass above the box caught Roberts in stride as she made a diagonal run. Her 18-yard shot skimmed just over the crossbar.

This is Florida’s fourth consecutive loss, equaling the program’s longest losing stretch set in 2018 and matched in 2019.

Records:

Florida: 1-4-1, 1-4-1 SEC

Tennessee: 3-3-1, 3-3-1 SEC

All-Time Series Record:

Florida leads 18-11-3

What Becky Burleigh Said:

On strategy going forward:

“Ultimately, we can do tactically what we want to do but I think it comes down just us being more aggressive in going after the ball.” – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh

On Gators scoring chances:

“I just think we have to be more consistent. We did have some good chances for sure and that’s promising, but I think at the same time we gave Tennessee a little bit too many opportunities ourselves. So we have to clean it up on both sides, both defensively and offensively.” – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh

On the team’s resilience in comeback:

“I don’t expect this team to ever quit. I don’t think that’s in our DNA. I think that’s a major part of what this team is all about.

“Certainly we are frustrated and disappointed with the results but we always have a choice as to how we respond.” – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh

Next Up:

Florida finishes 2020 SEC regular-season play with a pair of road matches.
Florida at Kentucky
When: 6 p.m. ET / Nov. 6
Site: Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__ukathletics.com_facilities_wendell-2Dvickie-2Dbell-2Dsoccer-2Dcomplex_1143&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_2lbBkpB4oUeQMb9tgfwWfjHib0nLV343SsZNV7NvHM&s=hQmY2twKfn7ZPofG7Ao83t9G9Fqqy9ZuGLGSi6GUxuM&e= >
Video: SEC Network +<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D871308a6-2Dd3af-2D4083-2Dbd42-2D6c2da11ea17b&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_2lbBkpB4oUeQMb9tgfwWfjHib0nLV343SsZNV7NvHM&s=74Yp5wj9T1u7v7liACh57FpXxOQ6oeqpsKqnXgSF1WU&e= >
Radio: ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>

Florida at Missouri

When: 2 p.m. ET / Nov. 8
Site: Audrey J. Walton Soccer Stadium<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__mutigers.com_facilities_audrey-2Dj-2Dwalton-2Dsoccer-2Dstadium_10&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_2lbBkpB4oUeQMb9tgfwWfjHib0nLV343SsZNV7NvHM&s=qyZ6FodPOV7e13X0NczAmWdq7GpjVnupV7eJYHRQFms&e= >
Video: SEC Network +<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3Da3f0a194-2Da85b-2D4eb7-2Daccc-2D8a55d32bb249&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=_2lbBkpB4oUeQMb9tgfwWfjHib0nLV343SsZNV7NvHM&s=0vkTJlrxQ6AYYhCPJDoFTe3Haq0EXqxRoE43DMv1EUU&e= >
Radio: ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM<https://www.wruf.com/listen-live/>

Tennessee (3-3-1, 3-3-1 SEC) at Florida (1-4-1, 1-4-1 SEC)

Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium (368)

Weather: 71 degrees, 5 mph N winds, clear

Goals by Period

Total