Thursday’s match is the home finale for the Gator coaching staff – Head Coach Becky Burleigh and Associate Head Coaches Vic Campbell and Alan Kirkup. Burleigh announced in January she would retire at the end of 2020-21 campaign – her 26th season with the Gators.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gator soccer’s match Thursday versus Georgia Southern is a first and also a last for the Gator program.
This is the first ever meeting between Florida and Georgia Southern. Match time is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
It is also the last time the Florida coaching staff – Head Coach Becky Burleigh and Associate Head Coaches Vic Campbell and Alan Kirkup – will be on a Gator home sideline. Burleigh announced in January she would retire at the end of 2020-21 campaign.<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2021_1_30_soccer-2Dburleigh-2Dstepping-2Ddown-2Dat-2Dseasons-2Dend.aspx&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=XRKuglZcj42RUaZ3wx83NYt7HxMIoivLTEHEOEhjKdA&s=dqtt0bZC9TjSU02y559AWGqr6t_AgDMSjlDDWolSYdk&e= > She and Campbell have been with Florida for each of its 26-season history and Kirkup joined the staff for the 2006 campaign.
Thursday, March 11
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Streaming Video: SEC Network +<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.espn.com_watch_player-3Fid-3Dd342c995-2Dcbfa-2D4a30-2Da1d8-2D463fe84d8e61&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=XRKuglZcj42RUaZ3wx83NYt7HxMIoivLTEHEOEhjKdA&s=2e8Rwoe-FCpxETs-FXYtkf6J07uQVD0h_O15VamjLdg&e= > with Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington calling the action.
Streaming Audio: GatorVision <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_watch_-3FLive-3D3480&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=XRKuglZcj42RUaZ3wx83NYt7HxMIoivLTEHEOEhjKdA&s=l2UzbVLjsvX6bB97Rh8PADV12qylUnqs1rGNVUbT2pE&e= > with Juan Aguerrevere and Skyler Lebron calling the action
Live Stats<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__stats.statbroadcast.com_statmonitr_-3Fid-3D333240&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=XRKuglZcj42RUaZ3wx83NYt7HxMIoivLTEHEOEhjKdA&s=QRqE9wGroTqDVvPBAyjyPSmw4YSyMH_jUoaeD0Rr908&e= >
Series Record: first meeting
Admission: Free but capped at 368 to ensure social distancing
In Florida’s Last Match:
Florida actually played an exhibition and a match in the last two weeks.
Florida stepped away from competition to meet No. 1 Florida State for an exhibition match on March 6. The two teams played to a 0-0 tie and the match was played as three 30-minute periods. A total of 21 Gators appeared in the exhibition.
In UF’s last match, Florida and South Florida played to a scoreless tie when the two teams met at Donald R. Dizney Stadium on Feb. 27. It was the second overtime in the all-time nine match series between the two teams, with both OT ending in ties. Both teams had opportunities but each goalkeeper turned in three saves for the clean sheet. The shutout was the first of 2020-21 for the Gators. It was also Senior Day and the careers of eight Gators were celebrated in a pre-match ceremony.
About Georgia Southern:
Georgia Southern opened the Chris Adams coaching tenure with a 2-1 win at Stetson on Feb. 13. Both of Georgia Southern’s goals came within a seven-minute span of the opening half, with Maddie Klintworth scoring in the 31st minute and Vala Theodorsdottir in the 38th minute. Like the SEC, the Sun Belt Conference played in the fall of 2020. Georgia Southern finished fifth in the Eastern Division. Adams was hired as Georgia Southern’s sixth head coach on Nov. 24, 2020 and the Feb. 13 win at Stetson was the 200th of his coaching career.
