Missouri Wins 2-1 Over Florida in SEC Soccer Tournament

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Florida couldn’t find the tying goal in the final 18 minutes, dropping a 2-1 decision to Missouri Sunday evening in Southeastern Conference Soccer Tournament second round action at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

The loss concludes fall play for Gator soccer. Due to the pandemic, this NCAA campaign stretches into the spring. Spring play can be played Feb. 3 – April 17. The NCAA Championships field will be scaled back from the current 64 team bracket to 48 teams.<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.soccerwire.com_news_ncaa-2Ddivision-2Di-2Dsoccer-2Dchampionships-2Dmoved-2Dto-2Dspring-2D2021-2Dwith-2Dnew-2Dformat_&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Zrq9vdgYiYILA2EFsEXXVU6SItqtypKUmuu740_xRYg&s=zbEzmmwXrH0YtgoqxW2ItotccWO2vupkOjJc02UxPYM&e= > The NCAA College Cup is May 13-17.

Sunday’s scoring:

Missouri scored first when Macy Trujillo put in the ball from eight yards at 16:25. The play started when Bella Alessi won the ball above the UF box and then sent a slanted pass into the box for Trujillo.

Cassidy Lindley’s third goal of the SEC Tournament tied the match in the 21st minute. From inside the Missouri half, Alivia Gonzalez slotted the ball through the center of the box. Lindley caught up with the ball, hurdled the oncoming MU goalkeeper to score from 14 yards.

Alessi gave Missouri the lead in the 72nd minute. Trujillo’s shot off a lofted ball from just above the six-yard box was deflected but Alessi put in the loose ball for the decisive goal.

Worth Noting:

* Florida goalkeeper Susi Espinoza equaled her collegiate-high with seven saves tonight
* This is Missouri’s second consecutive win over Florida as MU won 5-2 a week ago in Columbia, Mo., in the 2020 SEC regular-season finale. Florida is now 1-1-1 versus MU in SEC Tournament play.

Records:

Florida: 2-7-1, 1-6-1 SEC

Missouri: 4-2-2, 3-2-2 SEC

All-Time Series Record:

Florida leads 8-4-2

What the Gators Said:
After tonight’s loss:

“Credit to Missouri as they took us out of our style of play. We were never really able to get back into it. I think that was part of our downfall tonight.

“In the end, we need to be able to play in whatever conditions and under whatever pressure. If we want to be the team we anticipate that we can be, we have to be able to impose our style of play on our opponent. Tonight we did not do that.” – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh

Play resumes in the spring:

“This is an opportunity for us to take a pause, get refreshed, get people coming back fit and ready to roll. Once we get back in January, really focus on having a great mentality that would go along with our ability to play the way we want to play.” — Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh

Next Up:

Fall play concludes for Gator soccer. The season resumes in February with dates and opponents to be announced.

Florida (2-7-1, 1-6-1 SEC) vs Missouri (4-2-2, 3-2-2 SEC)

Stadium: Orange Beach Sportsplex

Weather: 63 degrees, North winds at 10 mph, clear

Goals by Period

Total

Florida

Missouri

Scoring Summary:

No.

Time