ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Florida soccer’s season ended Tuesday with a 5-2 loss to Tennessee in Tuesday’s opening match of Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinal action at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.
Tuesday’s Scoring:
Tennessee started the scoring with two quick goals. First came at 17:40 when Jaida Thomas intercepted a pass above the box, scoring from 12 yards. Then Abbey Burdette put in the deflection of her own shot off a corner kick for Tennessee’s second goal at 19:02.
The second goal of the season for Florida senior Georgia Eaton-Collins cut the lead in half. The free kick sent in by Julianne Leskauskas was headed in by Eaton-Collins from the middle of the box.
Tennessee pushed the lead out to 3-1 in the 59th minute when Taylor Huff scored from 15 yards off the assist from Hannah Tillett.
Leskauskas cut the lead again to one at 80:51. Kit Loferski sent the ball left for Maddy Rhodes. Her cross found Leskauskas alone just inside the box. Her left-footed strike scored at the far upper slot for Leskauskas’ second goal of the season.
The Vols scored twice in the final five minutes, with goals by Mackenzie George at 85:05 and Thomas finishing with her second goal of the match at 89:10.
2021 Records:
Florida (4-12-4, 3-6-1 SEC)
Tennessee (16-2, 8-2 SEC)
Series Records:
Florida leads 18-13-3
What the Tony Amato Said:
On today’s performance:
“The effort was really good. Tennessee’s a really good team and they were a handful today but our team fought until the end. The effort was outstanding and we almost went into halftime tied two-two. We kept fighting in the second half and we got it to 3-2. Those last few minutes there we were going for it. We had a lot of numbers forward because we knew our season would end if we didn’t get the goal and as a result that opened us up and they punished us for it and that’s how the score finished. But we’d rather have that than leave something on the table so credit to our team for going for it.” – Florida Head Coach Tony Amato
Florida scored half of its season goals in the last five matches.
“I think it was a lot of growth and development. Early on, we were trying to figure it out. We knew that we were going to have to find different ways to score goals this year. From the beginning of the year, we worked on it and it paid off here down the stretch. I think we keep building on that in the offseason and carry that into 2022.” – Florida Head Coach Tony Amato
Lots of new for the team and coaches this season. You must feel promising going forward into season II:
“Change is different. Change is challenging. I think we learned a lot as a staff. I know I learned a lot. The players worked really hard to get on the same page and I think this will be the foundation as we move forward. We’re excited about the future.” – Florida Head Coach Tony Amato
Florida (4-12-4, 3-6-1 SEC) versus No. 12 Tennessee (16-2, 8-2 SEC)
Stadium: Orange Beach Sportsplex
Weather: 71 degrees, NNE winds at 6 mph, 55% humidity
Goals
1
2
Final
Florida
1
1
2
Tennessee
2
3
5
Scoring:
1.
17:40
UT
Jaida Thomas
2.
19:02
UT
Abbey Burdette
3.
23:09
UF
Georgia Eaton-Collins
Julianne Leskauskas
4.
58:16
UT
Taylor Huff
Hannah Tillett
5.
80:51
UF
Julianne Leskauskas
Maddy Rhodes
6.
85:05
UT
Mackenzie George
7.
89:10
UT
Jaida Thomas
Shots: Florida 11, Tennessee 23
Saves: Florida 8 (Alexa Goldberg 6, TEAM 2), Tennessee 2 (Lindsey Roming 2)
Offsides: UF 2, UT 2
Cautions: none
