GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida (3-0-1) begins a three-match road stretch to close non-conference action Sunday at Kennesaw State. It is the second meeting between the two programs and the Gators first visit to Kennesaw State (1-2-1).
Sunday, Sept. 3 at Kennesaw State
Time/Site: 6 p.m. at Fifth Third Bank Stadium<https://ksuowls.com/facilities/fifth-third-bank-stadium/4>
Streaming Video: ESPN +<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/a630c542-46a7-48e9-be14-b8b43ac52806>
Live Stats<http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=470334&vislive=fla>
Admission: Free
Florida’s Second Weekend:
The Gators continued unbeaten and shutout play through Week 2 of 2023 action. Florida opened 2023 road action with a 0-0 tie at Miami and then closed home non-conference play with an 8-0 win versus Stetson.
It is the seventh time – and first since 2017 – UF has opened a season unbeaten through the opening four matches. This is the first time in the program’s 29 seasons that a Gator team opened with four consecutive shutouts.
* Two near UF goals were waved off at Miami. In the 24th minute, junior Madeline Pirrello’s 20-yard shot hit the inside of the far post and the deflection was caught by Miami goalkeeper Melissa Dagenais. A video review determined the ball didn’t cross the line. Then in the 67th minute, it appeared that Madison Young headed in a Delaney Tauzel corner kick. The goal was waved off as it was ruled the ball deflected off another and that Gator was in an offsides position.
* The result at Miami marked the first time in the program’s 29 seasons it opened with three consecutive shutouts.
* Florida returned home on Sunday with an 8-0 explosion versus Stetson. There isn’t a Gator on the current team who was around when Florida last scored eight goals in a match – Oct. 3, 1999 in 8-0 win versus Florida International.
* Six scored versus Stetson, with three turning in their first Gator goal. First half scoring came from two first-time Gator scorers. Both freshman Megan Hinnenkamp and graduate transfer Molly Grant each scored a brace to give UF a 4-0 halftime lead. Second half scoring opened with freshman Lena Bailey scoring her second UF goal. Julianne Leskauskas hit an unassisted blast in the 57th minute. Freshman Liwa Nilsson scored next, marking her first goal in her UF debut. Redshirt junior Maddy Rhodes closed the scoring with her score in the 81st minute.
* Senior Alexa Goldberg added her third solo shutout of the season at Miami and shared the Stetson shutout with redshirt freshman Jayden Emmanuel. Goldberg earned her first Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor on Aug. 28. She now has a career total of nine shutouts.
About Kennesaw State:
Kennesaw State was 7-9-3 overall and 5-3-2 in ASUN action last season. The Owls return 20 players from 2022, which includes four of the top-five point scorers – Macie Rainwater, Tianna Rivera, Stella Allen and Mai Jensen. Sophomore Aly Bryan turned in KSU’s first 2023 goal in versus Presbyterian and freshman Anabel Orozco scored at South Alabama. Seven freshmen and three transfers join KSU in 2023.
Kennesaw State opened the season with a scoreless tie at East Tennessee State and then opened home action with 1-0 victory versus Presbyterian. The Owls lost both matches last weekend at South Alabama’s Tournament – 3-0 versus Troy and 3-1 versus the host school.
