JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two second-half goals by Gator freshman Beata Olsson gave Florida soccer a 2-0 win over previously unbeaten North Florida Wednesday evening at Hodges Stadium.
Wednesday’s scoring:
The opening goal started when Madison Alexander was able to get an outstretched right foot on the ball, touching forward for Olsson making a left side run in the box. Olsson just beat UNF goalkeeper Mercedes Sapp to the ball to get the scoring touch from 10 yards.
Freshman Maddy Alexander had options in the 86th minute with Alexander and Olsson in the box. Alexander’s cross was touch toward goal and Olsson’s slide right foot banged it in for her second double goal match of her Gator career.
The shutout was Florida’s second of the spring and first since playing South Florida to a scoreless tie on Feb. 27.
Records:
Florida: 5-8-2, 1-6-1 SEC
North Florida: 7-1, 4-0 ASUN
All-Time Series Record:
Florida leads 1-0
What the Becky Burleigh Said:
Did UNF’s undefeated season impact how you prepared for this match?
“No, we knew that they had a lot of confidence coming into this game and had been playing really well. In the first half we struggled a little bit in terms of our execution. At halftime, we talked a lot about that, and how if we could unlock them a little bit [we would be able to] get more opportunities. And I think that’s kind of how it played out in the second half.”
What was the thought process on starting with Laney Steel this week?
“Deanne [Rose] moved back into the starting lineup, so that kind of bumped Laney back into the middle a little bit. In the second half we played 3-5-2, so that allowed us to play three in the middle of the center part of midfield. So that was helpful as well, because we definitely have a lot of depth in that position, and I feel like we can’t always get everybody in that we want to.”
What changes did you make after halftime?
“[We put three players in the back] to give us a little bit more target in the middle of midfield and exploit the width, because in the five you already have automatic width, and so I think we were able to do that. I thought Deanne [Rose] and Maddy Rhodes were both very effective out wide, and Nicole [Vernis] did some good things out wide too.”
What do you think of Beata Olsson’s development so far this spring?
“She’s a really intense player. I love her desire to battle in the box and I think that’s what she did, especially on that second goal, she just found her way in the back post and finished it. It’s good to see her hard work paying off because she spends a lot of time doing a lot of extra work.”
How will it feel to compete against Georgia in the last SEC match?
“That’ll be a fun game. It always is a good game with them. It’ll be interesting to do that on a neutral site, but really looking forward to it. I mean, at this point, there’s not a whole lot left, so just trying to enjoy every minute.”
Next Up:
Spring season play continues Sunday, March 26 when Florida travels to Atlanta to meet Georgia.
Date: March 28
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Site: Georgia Soccer Park<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__georgiasportspark.com_&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=iLy6gy1NZlHJzMXWLwVCisULfbPNWX-7DNAGG-CKqJM&s=VWMMzIO2ez0flMP8NSCXEVZeUYlwsvZYrhxuVSHIUao&e= >
Today’s Boxscore:
Florida (5-8-2, 2-6-1) at North Florida (7-1, 4-0)
Stadium: Hodges Stadium
Goals by Period
1
2
Total
Florida
0
2
2
North Florida
0
0
0
Scoring Summary:
No.
Time
Team
Goal Scorer
Assist
1.
74:57
UF
Beata Olsson
Madison Alexander
2.
74:57
UF
Beata Olsson
Maddy Rhodes, Madison Alexander
Shots: Florida 12, UNF 5
Saves: Florida 2, UNF 5
