For the second straight tournament, Tahnai Annis made sure the Gators advanced past the first round.
The senior midfielder scored two goals and assisted on another as No. 2 seed Florida (17-7) defeated Florida Gulf Coast (14-5-2), 3-0, on Saturday night at Pressly Stadium to win in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The win set up a second-round matchup this Friday in Gainesville between Florida and UCF, which defeated Florida International, 2-0, on Friday night in Orlando.
It was Annis’ third multi-goal game of the season and eighth of her career. In the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament against Georgia last week, Annis scored both goals in a 2-0 win.
“It is definitely my last go around, so I want to go all out,” Annis said. “I want to help as much as I can.”
In the 16th minute, the Gators grabbed an early lead for just the second time in their last eight games when Annis sent a diving header past Eagles keeper Stephanie Powers from 5 yards out for her eighth goal of the season.
“I was just trying to get in the best possible position to get a touch on it at all,” Annis said. “I was already in the box, so I was just trying to separate myself from a defender so Erika (Tymrak) could find me.”
Annis struck again in the 68th minute to make it 2-0 when freshman midfielder Annie Speese sent a free kick from deep in Florida’s attacking third to the middle of the box. With several Eagles and Gators going for the first ball, Annis was able to get her head on it and put it past Powers from 10 yards out.
Coach Becky Burleigh said the Gators accomplished their main goal of advancing, but, just as important, they put together the type of well-rounded performance necessary to advance deep in the tournament.
The three-goal effort was the team’s first since Oct. 9 against Alabama. The Gators held the Eagles to just three shots, only one of which was on frame.
“One of our assistant coaches talked at halftime about bringing a physical presence both defensively and offensively,” Burleigh said. “That’s not always easy to do. We had to have a little courage and bravery to do that, and our team took that to heart.”
Florida has put an added emphasis on attacking during free kicks and corner kicks. The team scored on two such plays Saturday against FGCU.
