ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – The Gators continue Southeastern Conference Tournament action Tuesday with No. 12 Tennessee. The Florida-Tennessee match starts Tuesday’s slate of four SEC Tournament quarterfinal matches. All action of the SEC Tournament can be seen on the SEC Network.
* Florida is making its 27th consecutive SEC Tournament appearance, winning 12 titles including the 2015 and 2016 crowns. This is the seventh meeting between Florida & Tennessee in SEC Tournament play and first since Tennessee advanced with 5-4 penalty kicks advantage in 2014 quarterfinal action. UF is 3-1-2 versus the Volunteers in SEC Tournament play.
* This is Florida’s fourth match in Orange Beach this calendar year. In the extended 2020-21 season, Florida and LSU met at the Orange Beach Sportsplex on March 14, with the Tigers taking a 2-1 win. The Gators returned to face Southern Mississippi for a 2021 season exhibition match, winning 2-1. Florida opened 2021 SEC Tournament action Sunday with a 4-3 penalty kick advantage over Vanderbilt after the two teams tied 1-all.
* Florida is the SEC Tournament’s No. 10 seed and Tennessee is No. 2. The Gators were among a three-way tie with Mississippi State and Texas A&M for No. 10 in the final SEC regular-season standings. The Gators advanced based on the tie-breaker comparing goal differential versus common SEC opponents.
* The Vols will be Florida’s seventh top-25 opponent, equaling Texas A&M for the league’s high of 2021 ranked opponents.
Tuesday, Nov. 2 versus No. 12 Tennessee
* Time/Site: 1 p.m. ET at Orange Beach Sportsplex<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.orangebeachal.gov_facilities_sportsplex_about&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=EQmLZ2k0tJ-dVhvuCxXpEnLCStNZ7fZ59tQzZFLlT9oIoPpDBSM5UWxBS2tkQwyn&s=AiUlESmpkdoVJsPcnOw6Odm-uVGHXptPA5V3TAfXoZc&e= > (1,500)
* SEC Network<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D51049ba4-2Dda8b-2D4b8f-2Da5da-2D0786afa4f018&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=EQmLZ2k0tJ-dVhvuCxXpEnLCStNZ7fZ59tQzZFLlT9oIoPpDBSM5UWxBS2tkQwyn&s=R1-mqv3voB8Daq7SVveXJ2GIS0fDgqA8QaAfK2uXbOI&e= > Alex Perlman and former U.S. National Team member Jill Loyden call the action
* Tickets: Adults $5, children (K-12) $2 per day
* SEC Tournament site and bracket<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.secsports.com_championship_soccer&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=EQmLZ2k0tJ-dVhvuCxXpEnLCStNZ7fZ59tQzZFLlT9oIoPpDBSM5UWxBS2tkQwyn&s=1CJBFnTODyUIIGF81m00LGdOq-t9CI6zPXRj3cXf6a0&e= >
Last Meeting:
Tennessee scored a goal in each half to take a 2-0 win in the Oct. 7 meeting in Knoxville, Tenn. The Vols took the lead in the 22nd minute when Claudia Dipasupil successfully converted a penalty kick. Two back saves kept the Vols from adding more first-half goals. Graduate Madison Alexander cleared the ball at the far post corner in the 17th minute. In the 30th minute, it was sophomore Sydney Urban clearing the ball from first Wrenne French and then Jaida Thomas’ shots to keep the Vols at 1-0 in the opening half. The Vols pushed the lead out to 2-0 in the 52nd minute off Jordan Fusco’s 14-yard shot to far post. Florida played the final 14 minutes a man down as Syd Kennedy received her second yellow card of the match.
2021 Records:
Florida (4-11-4, 3-6-1 SEC)
Tennessee (15-2, 9-2 SEC)
Series Records:
UF leads 18-12-3
Last Match:
Florida advanced to Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals with a 4-3 penalty kicks advantage over Vanderbilt in Sunday’s opening round. Vanderbilt’s Madison Van Elwell gave VU the lead in the 72nd minute off a long strike to the upper slot. The match was tied up in the 89th minute. The tying goal started with Kit Loferski’s deep cross to the far post. Florida’s Madison Alexander and VU’s Abi Brighton both went up for the ball. It was originally thought Alexander got the scoring touch but after review of video by the match’s center official, it was ruled an own goal.
After 20 minutes of scoreless overtime action, the match went to penalty kicks. Each of Florida’s four attempts were successful, advancing UF with a 4-3 penalty kicks advantage. Florida is now 3-3 all-time in its SEC Tournament penalty kicks matches. 2021 marks the fifth time in Florida’s last six SEC Tournament appearances it has been taken to overtime.
About Tennessee
Tennessee is the 2021 Southeastern Conference Eastern Division champion and currently rank No. 12 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. The Vols are 2-1 in 2021 overtime matches – 2-1 2OT win versus No. 11 Auburn and at Missouri and 2-1 OT loss at Vanderbilt.
In 2021, Tennessee has faced two ranked opponents – No. 11 Auburn (2-1 2OT win) and at No. 19 South Carolina (1-0 win).
Redshirt sophomore Jaida Thomas is the Vols’ goals (8) leader and shares the points lead (20) with Claudia Dipasupil (20). Senior Mackenzie George is the assists (8) leader. Junior goalkeeper Lindsey Roming has started 15 matches and owns a goals against average of 0.836. Taylor Huff is the 2021 SEC Freshman of the Year and Brian Pensky is the SEC Coach of the Year.
The two teams have faced 10 common opponents:
* Florida Gulf Coast (UF 1-0 road win; UT 6-0 home win)
* South Florida (UF 2-1 road loss; UT 2-0 road win)
* Auburn (UF 2-0 road loss; UT 2-1 2OT home win)
* Missouri (UF 3-2 OT home loss; UT 2-1 2OT road win)
* South Carolina (UF 2-1 home loss; UT 1-0 road win)
* Mississippi State (UF 2-1 road win; UT 2-1 home win)
* Vanderbilt (0-0 2OT road tie; 1-1 2OT neutral tie; UT 2-1 OT road loss)
* Missouri (UF 3-2 OT home loss; VU 5-0 home win)
* Kentucky (UF 1-0 OT home win; UT 3-1 home win)
* Georgia (UF 4-3 road loss; UT 2-0 home win)
