The Gators benefited Wednesday night when Tahnai Annis gave them something they had not had in more than two weeks: a first-half lead.
No. 23 Florida (15-6, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) defeated Georgia (12-6-2, 6-4-2 SEC), 2-0, in its opening-round game of the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala., thanks to two first-half goals from the senior forward.
Entering the tournament, Florida was 11-0 when scoring first but had fallen behind in four consecutive games. It was the first time Florida led 1-0 since its 2-0 win against Ole Miss on Oct. 14. Prior to that, their 3-0 win against Kentucky on Oct. 2 was the last game in which they led first.
Coach Becky Burleigh said the Gators made a point in practice during the week to be more aggressive from the back and be quicker getting on the attack.
The practice paid off in the 26th minute when keeper Taylor Burke played a long ball to senior midfielder Lindsay Thompson into UGA territory. Thompson flicked the ball ahead to Annis, who broke through the Bulldogs’ back line, made a move to her right to get by keeper Ashley Baker and put the ball into an empty net from 10 yards out for her sixth goal of the season.
“Before Taylor even kicked the ball, I had already started running,” Annis said. “I didn’t even have to stop my run because I was already past the defense.”
The early Florida lead forced Georgia to play aggressively, resulting in more space for the Gators to operate than they had in recent games in which they trailed throughout.
“The game was wide open because they were behind,” Burleigh said. “There was no bunker, so that helped.”
The Florida defense handled the Georgia attack well throughout the game, allowing just one shot on goal in the first half. With the Bulldogs pressing to get back in the game in the second half, they were only able to muster two more shots on frame.
With just 14 seconds remaining in the first half, the Gators added to their lead after Thompson sent a corner into the box. Junior midfielder Holly King headed the service, and Annis was able to kick it in out of the ensuing scuffle from six yards out.
Annis stepped up in the absence of junior forward McKenzie Barney, who will miss the remainder of the season after she sustained facial fractures in a collision while going for a header in the season finale against South Carolina. Barney, a team captain, gave her captain band to Annis prior to Wednesday’s match.
Annis downplayed her success after the game, noting the importance of the win for her team.
“It’s all or nothing right now,” she said. “One game and you could be done for the rest of the season, and we definitely don’t want that.”
The Gators play again Friday night when they take on 8th-seeded Alabama, which upset top-seeded South Carolina, 1-0, on Wednesday.
Florida forward Tahnai Annis scored both goals in the Gators’ 2-0 first-round win at the SEC Tournament.
