Surrounded by a record-breaking crowd of 1,412 fans at the Ronald R. Dizney Stadium, the Gators secured their first win against a top 25 team since 2019.
“It really does make a difference for us when we have Gator Nation behind us,” UF head coach Samantha Bohon said.
Following two consecutive away losses, Florida (4-3-5, 1-2-1 SEC) bounced back for a 2-1 victory against No. 22 Texas (9-2-2, 2-2-1 SEC) Friday.
Senior midfielder Lauren Donovan ended the Gators’ three-match scoreless streak with two goals in the match, marking the first multi-goal match of her collegiate career. This also made her the 21st player in UF history to have a brace in a match.
Donovan scored her first career goal and first goal of the match just two minutes into the first half. Sophomore forward Lena Bailey started the attack, leading to Florida’s first corner kick. Freshman Vera Blom took the kick, and Donovan jumped to head the ball straight into the back of the net.
“I mean, just the energy from my teammates, that was unbelievable,” Donovan said.
In minute 65:36, Donovan scored off her second touch, launching the ball into the goal to secure a 2-0 lead for the Gators.
“Kind of going back to what I learned at that Auburn game, I didn’t take a touch, and so getting that ball in that literally almost exact position, I knew I had to take a touch,” Donovan said. “And honestly, I did try to place it. It hit hard. So that went for me.”
Alongside Donovan, redshirt sophomore midfielder Madison Jones, Bailey and Blom worked together seamlessly on offense, connecting passes and creating plays for the entirety of the first half.
The Gators dominated the Longhorns, with seven shots in the first half compared to UT’s one.
Texas was caught offsides eight times by Florida’s veteran backline. Graduate student Daviana Vaka, who sat out Florida’s last match due to an injury, returned Friday to lock down the Longhorns.
“[Vaka’s] an important presence for us,” Bohon said. “She organizes, she’s obviously very quick, athletic. She’s a really good 1v1 defender, [Vaka] and Hauser have created a really good partnership this last season.”
Graduate student defenders Josie Curtis and Emilee Hauser were also impenetrable forces defensively for the Gators, even as Texas began to put up some resistance of its own.
UT freshman forward Amalia Villarreal took the first shot on goal for the Longhorns in the last six minutes of the first half, but graduate student goalkeeper Alexa Goldberg turned it away.
Florida was unable to increase its lead past 1-0 before halftime, with Blom coming close to scoring at minute 33:55 and junior defender/midfielder Njeri Butts falling short on her attacks in the last ten minutes.
Entering the second half, a penalty was called on senior defender Madison Young at minute 51. Texas senior midfielder Lexi Missimo took the kick, but missed the goal with a shot that hit the left pole.
However, this close call set the tone for the rest of the match. As rain began to pour, the Gators struggled to hold on to their lead.
Villarreal scored at minute 77:09 cutting Florida’s lead to 2-1.
With 13 minutes remaining, the Longhorns were itching to make a final push for a tie. Texas took 11 more shots on goal in the second half, compared to just three from the Gators.
The crowd was on the edge of its seats as two time stoppages occurred in the final 10 minutes of the match due to injuries.
“Our defense is locked down. They’re incredible,” Donovan said. “We will not go down without fights.”
In the last two minutes of the match, Texas graduate student defender Madison Haugen narrowly missed the goal out right, marking the Longhorns twelfth and final shot of the match.
Florida will try to keep its momentum rolling on the road against No. 24 South Carolina Thursday at 7 p.m.
“I’m hoping this will start some momentum. So hopefully this can unlock the lid a little bit from the goals,” Bohon said. “It was long overdue, but it’s great to have our first SEC game against Texas and finish with a win.
Contact Amanda Roman at aroman@alligator.org. Follow her on X @mandy_romannn
Amanda Roman is a sophomore sports journalism major and The Alligator's Fall 2024 Soccer Reporter. She interned for Fort Lauderdale United FC this past summer as the team's journalist. In her free time, she enjoys lifting, shopping and reading.
