Gainesville, FL - The No. 7 University of Florida soccer team used
goals from six different players to beat Jacksonville 6-0 Friday in
front of 1,577 fans and a dozen of the team’s alumni at James G.
Pressly Stadium. The first day of the Gator Soccer Alumni Reunion
weekend witnessed the Gators’ fourth win over an in-state opponent
this season (Miami, UCF and Florida Atlantic) and fourth shutout in a
row.

In its lone home appearance in September, UF (5-0, 0-0 Southeastern
Conference) converted on three goals in each half — including goals in
the waning seconds of each period — to put away the Dolphins.
Jacksonville (2-3, 0-0 Atlantic Sun) couldn’t generate much on
offense, turning in four shots for the match.

“We just didn’t want to take our foot off the gas,” coach Becky
Burleigh said. “We just wanted to keep being a little more
relentless.”

In the 27th minute, Lindsay Thompson netted a sliding goal from the
keeper’s right side to the far post. Dolphins’ goalkeeper Alexa
Rooney dove to her left, but it was a fraction of a second too late, and
the ball skated, untouched, into the goal. Erika Tymrak and Sarah
Chapman were credited with the assists.

“I just tried to get my touch on (the ball) as quickly as possible
and luckily I got there before the goalie did,” Thompson said.
“Seemed like after that, everything fell into place.”

Three minutes later, freshman Taylor Travis rocketed a shot on goal
from the right side that was deflected and found its way to Tahnai Annis
on the rebound. Annis scored the goal on a left-to-right shot from 12
yards out.
With five seconds left in the first half, freshman Maggie Rodgers put
the Gators up 3-0 with her first collegiate goal on an assist from
Brooke Thigpen. Rodgers trapped the ball and bounced it in past
Rooney’s outstretched hand.

“I wasn’t even paying attention to the time,” Rodgers said.
“After I scored, I was ready to go start the new kickoff and I was
like ‘Oh, it’s the end of the half.’”

Florida lived on the aggressive side and dominated on defense, tallying
15 shots in the first half while holding the Dolphins to just three. The
second half was more of the same, as Florida refused to be shaken out of
its offensive mindset as it also turned in 15 shots in the final 45
minutes.

“I’m really happy with the shutout,” Burleigh said. “That says
a lot about our team’s defense.”

McKenzie Barney made sure her team kept its foot on the gas and scored
five minutes into the second half to emphatically put UF ahead 4-0,
tying a school record (Abby Wambach/2001 and Sarah Yohe/1999) with her
streak of seven consecutive home matches with a goal.

“Anything tied with Abby Wambach (U.S. National Team member) means a
whole lot to me,” Barney said. “That’s insane; she’s a soccer
god.”

With less than 10 minutes gone by in the second half, the team erupted
into a “It’s great to be a Florida Gator” chant, fueled by the
atmosphere of famous alumni present.

“That really helps them think that they’re playing for more than
just themselves,” Burleigh said.

It was indeed better to cheer the orange and blue on Friday night,
especially after freshman Mary-Ann Krlin joined Rodgers in scoring her
first collegiate goal. Alicia Nalley was credited with the assist, along
with Chapman — her second of the match.

In the 90th minute, Natalia Torosian scored her second goal of the
season and added to the win count, with the team’s sixth goal.

Florida begins a five-match stretch of road contests with Friday, Sept.
10 date at No. 5 Florida State (3-0). FSU advanced to the 2009 NCAA
Quarterfinal round, falling 2-0 at Notre Dame. Next Friday’s match is
set to begin at 7 p.m. at the Seminole Soccer Complex. The match can be
heard on WRUF AM 850, by simulcast on Cox Channel 946
(Gainesville/Ocala) or on www.GatorZone.com with Adam Schick covering
the action.

By Eugenio Torrens, UF Communications

Scoring Summary: 1st 2nd Final
Jacksonville 0 0 0
Florida 3 3 6

Scoring:
UF – Lindsay Thompson (Erika Tymrak, Sarah Chapman) 26:17
UF – Tahnai Annis (Taylor Travis) 29:02
UF – Maggie Rodgers (Brooke Thigpen) 44:55
UF – McKenzie Barney (Jazmyne Avant) 49:58
UF – Mary-Ann Krlin (Alicia Nalley, Chapman) 79:09
UF – Natalia Torosian (Thigpen) 89:43

Goalkeepers:
Minutes Saves GA
JU Alexa Rooney 90:00 8 6
Florida Katie Fraine 52:38 2 0
Brooke Chancey 37:22 0 0

Statistical Summary: JU UF
Shots 4 30
Shots on goal 2 14
Saves 8 2
Corner Kicks 2 6
Fouls 4 10
Offside 1 0