STARKVILLE, Miss. – First-half goals by Kit Loferski and Georgia Eaton-Collins gave Florida soccer a 2-1 win over Mississippi State Sunday evening at the MSU Soccer Complex.
Florida is now 2-0-1 in Southeastern Conference play and is one of three teams unbeaten in 2021 league play.
Sunday’s Scoring:
Two goals is the most for the Gators in 2021 first-half action. The opening goal in the 30th minute started when Cameron Hall sent the ball forward to Kouri Peace at the top of the Bulldogs’ defensive third. Her header flicked to just above the top of the box was run down by Loferski for 15-yard right-footed strike to the far post.
A set piece led to the Gators’ second goal in the 35th minute. Senior Georgia Eaton-Collins headed in Delaney Tauzel’s corner kick for her first goal of 2021.
The Bulldogs cut the lead to one in the 38th minute with Hailey Farrington-Bentil’s 15-yard strike to the far post.
Did You Know:
* Loferski pushed her team-leading goals total to four, setting a collegiate high for season goals. She scored three as a freshman in 2016.
* Eaton-Collins scores her first goal of 2021 and second of career. The defender scored her first versus South Florida in 2019 NCAA First Round action.
* MSU last allowed two goals on their home pitch in the finale of 2020 SEC action, losing 2-1 to then No. 7 Arkansas on Nov. 6, 2020.
2021 Records:
Florida (3-5-3, 2-0-1 SEC)
Mississippi State (2-4-3, 0-2-1 SEC)
Series Records:
Florida leads 16-2-2
What Coach Tony Amato Said:
Florida is one of three teams without a loss in SEC action. Do you think the challenging non-conference schedule is benefiting UF now in conference play?
“It was a very hard, challenging schedule and I think it could have gone one of two ways. You could have not handled it very well and go in the tank. Or you could overcome the adversity and find a way to work through it to chip away at getting better so you could go on to win some games.
“I think this team has done a really good job of working through that and coming out the other side of it. We’ve turned that adversity into successes here as we’ve started conference play. I think that will set us up as we maneuver the rest of the season.” – Florida Head Coach Tony Amato
On Kit Loferski’s play this season:
“We went to Kit earlier in the season and told her we’ll look to her to score goals. She’s embraced that and she’s done a really good job with that focus. Kit has a career high in goals and we will look to keep that going to help our team be successful this year.” – Florida Head Coach Tony Amato
Georgia Eaton-Collins headed in her first goal of season off a corner kick. Are set pieces a point of emphasis in training?
“Absolutely. Set pieces are a staple to what we do. It is a big identity piece for us and is something we focus on defensively and in attacking. It was really great for Georgia (Eaton-Collins) to hit the game winner on a set piece today. We had some issues with service earlier in the season so that is something we worked on, even in today’s pregame. Georgia got on the end of a really good serve from Delaney (Tauzel).
“It is things like the header off a corner kick that win college soccer games. It was really nice for us to do that tonight and hopefully there is more to come.” – Florida Head Coach Tony Amato
Next Up:
Florida continues play versus Magnolia State rivals next Sunday when Mississippi comes to Gainesville. Mississippi lost 4-1 at No. 16 Arkansas Sunday afternoon.
Sunday, Oct. 3
* Time: 3 p.m. ET
* Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_2020_4_4_donald-2Dr-2Ddizney-2Dstadium.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=gxYvq6_lclig8A3LDwoGd1is9NaqYdZLwmUd-0fMidQ&s=fXY1hQIztEOcZEcyXyg-KtTp8kmgEAtGQVFZrKD6WZk&e= > (1,500)
* Streaming Audio: GatorVision with Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington calling the action.
* SEC Network<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D3820532&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=gxYvq6_lclig8A3LDwoGd1is9NaqYdZLwmUd-0fMidQ&s=knPslhgZWO72KRM2DNkois-MKdc_3mpOApWKjJAtoEM&e= >
* Tickets: Free
* Live Stats<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__stats.statbroadcast.com_statmonitr_-3Fid-3D354811&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=gxYvq6_lclig8A3LDwoGd1is9NaqYdZLwmUd-0fMidQ&s=loAc2j3ckFVPRwHVrhxshrDSnDMDMn4U1e6P9t95f4g&e= >
Florida (3-5-3, 2-0-1 SEC) at Mississippi State (2-4-3, 0-2-1 SEC)
Stadium: MSU Soccer Complex (463)
Weather: 80 degrees, ESE winds at 2 mph, 56% humidity
Goals
1
2
Final
Florida
2
0
2
Mississippi State
1
0
1
Scoring:
1.
29:37
UF
Kit Loferski
Kouri Peace, Cameron Hall
2.
34:48
UF
Georgia Eaton-Collins
Delaney Tauzel
3.
37:30
MSU
Hailey Farrington-Bentil
Ally Perry
Shots: Florida 4, Mississippi State 20
Saves: Florida 4 (Alexa Goldberg 4), Mississippi State 0 (Maddy Anderson 0)
Cautions: 69:10 Niah Johnson-MSU (yellow)
