GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators close Southeastern Conference regular-season action Thursday with a home match versus South Carolina.
* South Carolina is by far Florida’s most frequent opponent for regular-season closing matches. This will be the 13th time the two teams meet to close regular-season action, with UF holding a 9-2-2 advantage in those matches.
* Florida looks for its first win over South Carolina since 2016, with the Gamecocks owning a 0-4-1 since UF’s last win in the 2016 SEC Tournament semifinal round.
* Points for the SEC Tournament are going to be the focus for both teams. South Carolina is currently tied for fourth in the SEC standings and are guaranteed a spot in the SEC Tournament. The Gators currently are tied for ninth in the SEC standings and will look for points to boost their bid for a tournament berth. Of the league’s 14 teams, only Missouri and Kentucky are mathematically eliminated. More Info on Road to Orange Beach.<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_documents_2021_10_26_The-5FRoad-5FTo-5FOrange-5FBeach.pdf&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0cQXrJ1hjA_XQMBP885w2y_5W2L5dVZIBHzBh8KbHrc&s=gr81grfUVk_yYe_Qp5PG1bxOxVRPCiYhKAqMn7rm52g&e= >
Thursday, Oct. 28 versus USC
* Time/Site: 6:30 p.m. ET at 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=0cQXrJ1hjA_XQMBP885w2y_5W2L5dVZIBHzBh8KbHrc&s=YIHNrGjpPLLH5elCbWBxsSq303UVwXREC-yG9xoqS7c&e= > (1,500)
* SEC Network +<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3D7c6a407a-2D94f7-2D447b-2D8092-2D12ddae85645c&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0cQXrJ1hjA_XQMBP885w2y_5W2L5dVZIBHzBh8KbHrc&s=87l9agtF2I40oLyv6I9ONy0qpZaSceN4fP3Ebw9GKhs&e= > Kyle Crooks & Matthew Stubbington with the call
* Streaming Audio: Gatorvision<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_watch_-3FLive-3D3631-26type-3DArchive&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0cQXrJ1hjA_XQMBP885w2y_5W2L5dVZIBHzBh8KbHrc&s=DZ04Bgr94ssD6uYVStTl3O8XJWgKV_PHybCQ06g99T8&e= >
* Tickets: Free admission
* Live Stats<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__stats.statbroadcast.com_statmonitr_-3Fid-3D354814&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=0cQXrJ1hjA_XQMBP885w2y_5W2L5dVZIBHzBh8KbHrc&s=M5mJGJQpaByeKakkJOw2DyiGQz7lCIbKg9__5E1PD_k&e= >
* Promotions: Fleece Vest Giveaway – first 100 fans receive a Gators fleece vest!
Last Meeting:
A short-handed Florida team fell 4-2 at No. 11 South Carolina on Oct. 25, 2020. Seven Gators – and Head Coach Becky Burleigh – did not make the trip to Columbia, S.C., due to injuries or COVID-19 protocol. The Gamecocks opened a 3-1 halftime lead with set-play goals by Sutton Jones, Samantha Chang and Rylee Forster. Jones scored again in the 67th minute to close USC scoring.
Both of Florida’s goals were the first collegiate goals for each Gator. Redshirt freshman Nicole Vernis tied the match at 9:02 on Florida’s first shot of the match – a 14-yard right footed shot. In the final minute of the match, Laney Steed headed a Gamecock throw-in deep in the USC half toward the top of the box. Freshman Tori Grambo jumped on the Gamecock’s clearance attempt and then took four touches before scoring on a 19-yard left-footed strike.
2021 Records:
Florida (4-10-3, 3-5-1 SEC)
South Carolina (10-5-1, 5-3-1 SEC)
Series Records:
UF leads 22-10-2
Last Match:
Florida celebrated Senior Day with a 4-0 win over LSU on Oct. 24. The scoring started at 14:01 when Madison Alexander put in ball dropped by LSU’s goalkeeper off of Kit Loferski’s lofted cross. It was Alexander’s third goal of the season, with each score coming in the last four matches. Florida scored three times in an 18-minute second-half span. Loferski won the ball and then sent the ball to Alivia Gonzalez just above the box. Gonzalez took a touch to open up the angle and hit a 17-yard left-footed shot to the far post in the 55th minute. A set play goal was next for Florida in the 62nd minute. Sophomore Sydney Urban’s corner kick to the middle of the box was headed in by freshman Madison Young for her first collegiate goal.
After assists on the opening two goals, Loferski scored the afternoon’s final goal off a penalty kick at 71:23. Junior Kouri Peace was fouled in the box, giving Florida its first penalty kick of the season. Loferski successfully converted the shot, which was her first penalty kick of her six seasons with the Gators. The penalty kick extended her team-leading totals for goals (5), assists (3) and points (13). The result was Florida’s fifth shutout of the season.
About South Carolina:
South Carolina is Florida’s sixth opponent of 2021 that advanced to last season’s NCAA Tournament. USC advanced to the NCAA Second Round, losing 1-0 to Georgetown.
A single goal decided South Carolina’s two matches versus ranked teams this season – versus No. 13 Auburn (3-2 win) and versus No. 12 Tennessee (1-0 loss). South Carolina has ranked in the top 25 for five weeks of the 2021 season, with its high of No. 12 coming in Week 2 and 3. USC is currently receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll.
The Gamecocks are 5-3 in road action, with two of those losses coming in their last two road trips. Only one 2021 USC match went to overtime, with the home match versus Georgia ending in a scoreless tie. The two teams have faced eight common opponents:
* Missouri (UF 3-2 OT home loss; USC 2-1 home win)
* Vanderbilt (UF 0-0 2OT road tie; USC 1-0 home win)
* Kentucky (UF 1-0 OT home win; USC 2-1 road win)
* Auburn (UF 2-0 road loss; USC 3-2 home win)
* Mississippi (UF 1-0 home loss, USC 2-1 road loss)
* Tennessee (UF 2-0 road loss; USC 1-0 home loss)
* Georgia (UF 4-3 road loss; USC 0-0 2OT home tie)
* LSU (UF 4-0 home win; USC 4-0 road loss)
Sophomore Catherine Barry leads USC in goals (5) and shares the points lead (12) with Ryan Gareis. The Gamecocks assists leaders are Gareis and fellow graduate Lauren Chang with eight each. Junior Heather Hinz has played all but 16 minutes in goal for USC this season and owns a goals against average of 1.00.
