Gators Ends Season with 4-1 Loss to Texas A&M

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida closed its 2022 season with a 4-1 loss to Texas A&M Thursday evening at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

Florida Senior Night
Florida five-member senior class – Francesca Faraci, Alivia Gonzalez, Cameron Hall, Syd Kennedy and Kouri Peace – were celebrated Thursday in a pre-match ceremony.

During the last four seasons, the team advanced to the last three Southeastern Conference Tournaments, advancing to the 2019 semifinal. The 2019 team earned a NCAA Tournament berth. All five Gators appear multiple times on SEC Academic Honor Rolls and have volunteered a combined 161 hours for Goodwill Gator activities. Hall already has her bachelor’s degree and the others are expected to receive their degrees in fall 2022 or spring 2023.

Thursday’s scoring:
The first Aggie goal started in the fifth minute when Kate Colvin sent a cross to the middle of the box. Makhiya McDonald touch lifted the ball and Maile Hayes headed it in from six yards.

TAMU’s goalkeeper Kenna Caldwell picked up an assist on the next goal at 11:29. She took the free kick just a few steps inside the top of the Gator half. Maile Hayes touch inside the six-yard box looked likely to score but Macy Matula made certain by hammering the ball into the net.

The final Aggie goal of the opening half came in the 28th minute. TAMU Mia Pante drove to the middle of the field and scored with a low, right-footed shot.

In the 69th minute, Madison Young and Delaney Tauzel again connected on a corner kick. Young headed in Tauzel’s kick for her second goal of the season. The pair also scored off a corner kick a week ago versus Vanderbilt.

TAMU scored again just over a minute later. Hayes received the ball from Sydney Becerra. She made a centering move in the box before scoring her second goal of the evening at 69:30.

Florida Coach Samantha Bohon Said:

Team’s play in second half
“They showed just a little bit more conviction, a little bit more energy. Maybe a little bit of organization. I don’t know how many times I’ve said we played a formation that we hadn’t played all season. So I think we’ve played almost all of them [over the course of the season].That’s what the season required. And there’s a mental piece to that that kind of wears on you as you feel like you can’t establish a rhythm.

“For the team, they just keep coming into every game with new hope. They just keep trusting us and they kept fighting so as a staff, we’re super grateful.” Florida Head Coach Samantha Bohon

Thoughts on Season One with Florida
“We see very clearly what we need to work on this winter and in the spring. Our staff is really excited just to be able to train. This is where we get to develop and really hone in on some topics and things that we want to add to our style of play. We can also do some individual work that will really help us. We’ve got a two week countdown until we get back with this group. They’re very eager. They want to learn, develop and grow. So we’re really excited for that.

“Resiliency is the word that first comes to mind. This team, even prior to our arrival has dealt with a ton of adversity. That would make a lot of individuals, much less programs, kind of crumble. This group had so much fight in them. They stayed so connected and that gave them a reason to keep playing. They wanted to play for each other. The memories that they’ve created – it was really cool to hear some of the seniors talk in the huddle right now about how this year they got the joy back of playing soccer. There’s so many takeaways from here. It’s kind of hard to even capsulate right now, but overall this season, they just fought. We had a saying, fight together no matter what. And I think they did that all season long.”

“I just want to say it’s just been a wonderful first year. The University of Florida is an incredible place. Jack [Rushworth] just said it in the huddle that the people make the place and that’s really true about here. We’re just all really grateful to be part of the Gator Nation.” – Florida Head Coach Samantha Bohon

Records:
Florida: 2-14-1, 0-9-1 SEC
Texas A&M: 9-5-5, 3-4-3 SEC

Series Record:
TAMU leads 10-8

Texas A&M (9-5-5, 3-4-3 SEC) versus Florida (2-14-1, 0-9-1 SEC)

Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium (400)

Weather: 81 degrees, mostly sunny, winds ENE 4 mph

Goals by Period

Total

Texas A&M

Florida

Scoring Summary:

No.

Time

Team

Goal Scorer

Assist