UF Soccer: Kentucky Wins 3-1 Over Florida
Courtesy of University Athletic Association
Florida soccer dropped a 3-1 decision to Kentucky Friday evening at the Wendell and Vickie Soccer Complex.
Friday’s scoring:
A penalty kick awarded late in the opening half was successfully converted by Kentucky’s Jordyn Rhodes in the 43rd minute.
Parker Roberts tied the match in the 56th minute with a long strike. She won the ball at the top of the Kentucky defensive third and then sent a 25-yard right-footed shot that just dipped under crossbar for her first goal of the season.
Kentucky regained the lead in the 68th minute when Hannah Richardson took the flick from Rhodes and got behind the defense to score on a 14-yard shot to the far corner.
The Wildcats’ lead expanded to the final margin when Rhodes scored in the 81st minute. Richardson intercepted a Gator defensive pass and headed toward goal. Her shot was saved by UF’s Susi Espinoza, but the deflection landed in the six-yard box where Rhodes put it in for her second goal of the evening. The goal was Rhodes’ seventh of the season, which leads the SEC in 2020.
Worth Noting:
* Tonight’s result sets Florida’s record for consecutive losses at five.
* Kentucky claims its first win of 2020. UK Head Coach Ian Carry missed Friday’s match due to his recent positive COVID-19 test.
* This is Kentucky’s first win over Florida since 2014. Of UK’s five wins over Florida, all have come away from Gainesville (4 in Lexington; 1 in Orange Beach, Ala.)
What Becky Burleigh Said:
After tonight’s result:
“Clearly, we are stuck in a rut and are having a difficult time finding our way out of it. It’s my responsibility to get our mentality back on a winning track.
“I still believe in this team and saw some individual performances that display that mentality, but we need it from every single person on our team. That’s my job to bring it out of everyone.” – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
Records:
Florida: 1-5-1, 1-5-1 SEC
Kentucky: 1-4-3, 1-4-3 SEC
All-Time Series Record:
Florida leads 23-5-3
Next Up:
Florida finishes SEC regular-season action Sunday at Missouri.
Florida at Missouri
When: 2 p.m. ET / Nov. 8
Site: Audrey J. Walton Soccer Stadium
Video: SEC Network + with Nate Gatter and Simon Rose calling the action
Radio: ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM with Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington calling the action