The Florida soccer team is coming off a 7-2 win against Oklahoma State where it set a school record with seven goals in the second half after being held scoreless through the first.
But the Gators will face a bigger test on the road tonight in a venue where they haven’t won a match since 2010.
No. 5 Florida (4-1-0) will kick off Southeastern Conference play against Kentucky (2-2-1) in Lexington, beginning its campaign to defend the 2015 SEC regular season and Tournament titles.
“It is really exciting to get into SEC games for sure,” senior midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard said on Wednesday. “It’s kind of a start of a new season because this is when it really gets down to SEC play and those games that really count for us.”
Senior forward Savannah Jordan, who scored two goals Sunday, has a team-high six goals on the season and leads the NCAA with six assists.
Florida is also second in the NCAA in scoring offense, averaging 3.80 goals per match.
“We have the ability offensively to be really good,” sophomore midfielder Sarah Troccoli said. “(The key is) always moving the ball, we always try to get a high passage completion percentage. Whenever we do that we usually win, so we are trying to work on that.”
The last time Florida played Kentucky was in 2015 in Gainesville, when the match ended in a 1-1 tie.
The Gators are hoping for a win this time around.
“I think the biggest thing is just be prepared for a battle,” coach Becky Burleigh said.
“We haven’t won there the last two times we have been there. We tied them last year here. We know that it’s going to be a tough one.”
The Gators have shown resiliency on the road, winning two out of three consecutive road matches.
They have also proven how explosive their offense can be at times.
But UF’s coaches and players said they have to focus on improving their defense going into conference play.
They have given up eight goals through the first five matches.
“There is a lot of talent in this league, and I think that is evidenced by the results that the league has gotten,” Burleigh said.
“There is never an easy game in the SEC, there’s no doubt about that. And so for us, it’s about making sure that we ready and prepared, and ready to bring what we bring to the table every single game.”
Contact Lauren Staff at lstaff@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @lstaff27.
UF midfielders Meggie Dougherty Howard (28) and Mayra Pelayo celebrate after Pelayo scores the first goal in Florida's 5-2 win against Iowa State on Aug. 19, 2016, at James G. Pressly Stadium.
