For the first 66 minutes of the match, it appeared UF would have its fourth 1-0 game in a row with Arkansas.
Then, a freshman stepped in and put the game out of reach with some help from two seniors.
In the next three minutes, Tahnai Annis scored two goals - her seventh and eighth of the season for her first multi-goal game of her career - on assists from Ameera Abdullah and Megan Kerns, to give the No. 7 Gators a 3-0 victory Thursday night at James G. Pressly Stadium.
"To have (Annis) score and have it not be a 1-0 game really took the pressure off of us," Kerns said.
The win sparked an on-field celebration from UF (14-2-1, 9-0 Southeastern Conference), which clinched at least a share of its third consecutive SEC regular-season title. Later in the night, second-place LSU tied South Carolina 0-0, giving the Gators sole possession of the conference title.
The accomplishment is one of many the Gators hoped to attain this season, but it is one that still meant a lot to the team.
"It never gets old. Winning the SEC was one of the goals that we set at the beginning of the regular season," UF coach Becky Burleigh said. "We still have a couple games to go, and this team has bigger goals than that."
Much of the first half was dominated by UF, but the Gators were unable to connect on their final passes to get a score.
Then Razorbacks defender Megan Fawley tripped Gators midfielder Lindsay Thompson just outside the 18-yard box with under four minutes to play in the first half, earning her a yellow card. Arkansas coach Gordon Henderson let the refs hear his displeasure about the call, which led to a team yellow card.
Despite the arguments, Kerns took the free kick and drilled it past goalie Britni Williams for the first goal allowed by Arkansas in the first half all season.
"The goal right before halftime was big because it boosted us a little bit," Burleigh said.
Until the offense could get going and finish off any chance of an Arkansas comeback, the defense made sure the Gators kept their lead.
For the fourth time in five games, UF's defense pitched a shutout with a couple of key saves by goalie Meghan Berlingo. Berlingo has not conceded a goal since taking over the starting job.
The defensive dominance will be needed when UF heads to Baton Rouge, La., to take on an LSU team that still has a lot to play for, even after being eliminated from the running to claim a share of the SEC title.
The Tigers are undefeated in their last 18 home games, a stretch dating back to their 2-1 loss to Auburn on Oct. 13, 2006.
"LSU is undefeated the last two years at home, and we are looking to end that streak," Annis said.
Preventing UF from going undefeated in SEC play should be another point of motivation for LSU.
The Gators have a not gone undefeated in the SEC since 2000, and it should give them enough incentive to prevent any chance their effort will drop just because they clinched the SEC.
