The No. 10 Gators soccer team will open Southeastern Conference play tonight, as they host the reigning conference champs, No. 6 Texas A&M, at Donald R. Dizney Stadium at 7.
This will be Florida’s first home game at Dizney Stadium this season, taking a break from James G. Pressly Stadium for the evening — the site of two home wins against then-No.1 Florida State and Oklahoma State.
Since the Aggies (5-1-0) joined the SEC in 2012, both teams have won one outright conference title apiece.
In 2013, UF and TAMU were co-SEC champs after posting identical 9-2 conference records.
Texas A&M comes into tonight’s SEC opener as defending conference champions, led by coach G Guerrieri.
However, the Aggies come into Gainesville after a big loss against Florida State, who the Gators beat 3-2 on Aug. 30.
Florida (4-1-0) coach Becky Burleigh said on Monday that TAMU’s loss to FSU may spark a fire under the Aggies.
"I know (Guerrieri) pretty well, and I’m sure he’s repurposing that loss as a great opportunity to focus his team," Burleigh said.
Aside from the loss to the Seminoles, Guerrieri and his team will come into Gainesville tonight with another incentive to take down the Gators: To avenge last year’s 1-0 home loss.
On Oct. 3, the then-No. 6 Gators took on the then-No. 9 Aggies in College Station, Texas.
UF and TAMU both entered the mid-season contest at Ellis Field with respective four and five-game winning streaks. The Aggies had yet to lose at home.
A late-game goal by junior forward Savannah Jordan, along with some solid play from the defense and former goalkeeper Taylor Burke, led to the road win for the Gators.
"It was one of our best games that we played," junior midfielder Liz Slattery said of the 2014 victory over the Aggies.
Now, the focus for Florida is playing its first game on its SEC schedule, and Burleigh is aware that, regardless of the opponent, the importance of this game is getting the first conference matchup out of the way.
"Starting SEC play is just another part of our progress," Burleigh said on Monday.
"It’ll be a great experience for this team to know what it feels like to play in an SEC game."
Playing a team of TAMU’s caliber early in the season can help the Gators determine how good they really are and what they need to work on for the rest of the conference schedule.
Burleigh will especially be looking to Florida’s defensive to slow down Texas A&M’s attack.
The Aggies present the best offensive attack in the conference thus far, scoring an average of three goals per game this season.
TAMU also leads the conference in shots per game and corner kicks per game.
UF’s back line will face a significant test by the Aggies’ forwards, led by sophomore Haley Pounds, whose five goals and four assists gives her a share of the SEC lead in points with 14.
Burleigh understands this, and the concept of facing such a tough opponent to begin conference play entices her.
"They’re really gonna push us to the limit, and I’m really excited about that, to see how we respond."
Follow Kyle Brutman on Twitter @KBrut13
UF midfielder Liz Slattery dribbles during Florida's 2-1 win against Troy in an exhibition match on Aug. 11, 2015, at the soccer practice field at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
