For the first time in the program’s 21-year history, the Florida soccer team defeated the nation’s top team on its home turf.
Led by goals from Savannah Jordan, Sarah Troccoli and Pamela Begic, the No. 14 Gators (3-1-0) took down No. 1 Florida State (3-1-0) 3-2 on Sunday afternoon, ending the Seminoles’ 24-match unbeaten streak.
The win was UF’s second-straight over FSU, as the Gators handed the defending NCAA champion Seminoles their only loss in the 2014 season.
The first 10 minutes of the game saw the Gators struggle to get a rhythm going offensively.
On multiple occasions, Florida's passes were either intercepted or were too strong and rolled out of bounds.
However, the Gators gained momentum quickly, leading to Jordan’s fifth goal of the season in the 18th minute.
Troccoli assisted Jordan on the play, dishing the ball with the outside of her foot from just beyond the box and allowing Jordan to place the ball at the far left post from six yards out.
Less than three minutes later, a Christen Westphal corner found the head of Troccoli and landed in the top-right corner of the net to double the Gators’ lead.
Sunday’s game served as Troccoli’s first collegiate start and also marked her second straight game with a goal.
The freshman entered the university during the Spring semester, and has been working with coach Becky Burleigh and the team from the beginning of her time in Gainesville.
"She has put in a lot of hard work," Burleigh said.
"She stayed here the entire summer, she was here in the spring and that’s really paying off for her."
In the 27th minute, Jordan lined up to take a penalty kick following a Florida State foul in the box, but the shot hit the middle of the crossbar and sailed toward midfield.
Florida found itself in position to score on another penalty opportunity late in the first half when freshman Melanie Monteagudo was taken down in the box.
This time, Begic placed the shot successfully into the left side of the goal, giving the Gators a 3-0 lead.
"In my opinion, that’s one of the easiest things to do in soccer," Begic said of the penalty, "I mean, its just you and the goalie. It’s really close, so I just went for it."
Florida entered halftime with a comfortable 3-0 lead, but that lead quickly dissipated following two goals by the Seminoles in the 75th and 80th minutes.
Despite the shortened lead, the Gators held on in the final minutes, clinching the upset in the team’s first home game of the season.
A change in formation gave the Gators an opportunity to produce offensively, switching from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-1-4-1.
The switch-up allowed Florida to eliminate FSU’s holding midfielders, opening up more chances on goal for Burleigh’s squad.
The scoring line against the Seminoles made it seven goals in the past two games for the Gators, while the team scored just two goals in the season’s first two matches.
Follow Kyle Brutman on Twitter @KBrut13
UF soccer players celebrate Sarah Troccoli's goal while FSU players watch on during Florida's 3-2 win on Aug. 30, 2015, at James G. Pressly Stadium.
