Havana Solaun makes a statement out of finding the back of the net.
The junior midfielder spearheaded two unassisted goals on set pieces for Florida (13-3-1, 7-2 Southeastern Conference) en route to a 3-0 shutout over Tennessee (7-7-3, 2-5-2 SEC) in Knoxville, Tenn., on Friday night. It is the first time the Gators pulled out a win in Knoxville since 1999.
After both teams went scoreless in the first half, Solaun capitalized on a penalty kick in the 46th minute.
The midfielder made the shot sending it straight to the net for Florida’s first point of the night.
“For her to step up and take the penalty, that’s a hard thing to do in a 0-0 game that has a lot of meaning,” coach Becky Burleigh said. “I’m really proud of her courage to do that.”
It was a turning point for Solaun, who failed to score off a penalty kick against Mississippi State on Oct. 11.
“We don’t dictate who takes those penalty kicks, so when a person steps up I know that they have the confidence that they can make it,” Burleigh said of Solaun’s decision to take the shot.
Her confidence was an asset, as Solaun capitalized on another set piece.
The Gators earned a corner kick opportunity in the 66th minute, and Solaun rose up to take the kick. She put a curve on the ball, sending it over the head of Volunteers goalkeeper Julie Eckel for the 2-0 lead.
Solaun’s pair of goals puts her at a total of six this season. It is the fourth double-goal match of her career.
The Gators showed tenacity all around, as freshman Savannah Jordan looked to make Florida’s victory even sweeter.
Florida’s style relied on using the width, and senior outside back Taylor Travis made sure to drive the ball up the far flank quickly.
Travis connected with Jordan, who was eagerly waiting in the box.
Jordan took a touch on the ball and sank it into the left corner for Florida’s final goal on the night.
“It was a great ball in from Taylor Travis, and (Jordan) kind of pulled out from the goal,” Burleigh said of the lead-up to the goal. “That movement created some space between her and her defender, so it was a really well executed goal.”
Jordan leads the SEC in goal scoring with 16 goals under her name this season.
Florida will now face conference leader Texas A&M in the comfort of James G. Pressly Stadium on Sunday at 3 p.m.
The Gators are wholly connecting to a style that works, grabbing their third consecutive shutout to showcase the team they want to become.
“We are just one step closer,” Burleigh said. “One down, two to go, and we took care of business tonight.”
Follow Michelle Provenzano on Twitter @mmprovenzano.
Havana Solaun (19) fights for the ball during Florida’s 2-0 win against Oklahoma State on Sept. 6 at James G. Pressly Stadium.
