Florida Soccer to Play Host to NCAA First Round Action

11/7/11

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The University of Florida soccer team (16-7, 7-4 SEC) plays host to Atlantic Sun Conference champion Florida Gulf Coast (14-4-2, 7-1-1 A-Sun) on Saturday, Nov. 12 for NCAA First Round action. Play begins at 7 p.m. at the James G. Pressly Stadium. Florida is a No. 2 region seed for the second consecutive year.

UF is one of 32 programs playing host to 2011 NCAA First Round action this weekend. Format for the NCAA Soccer Championship is altered this year as the field plays a 1-2-1-2 schedule over the next four weeks instead of a 2-1-1-2 as in years past. In 2011, first round action will be played on the opening weekend of play, Nov. 11, 12 or 13. The second and third rounds of play will be conducted next weekend (Nov. 18 and 20) at eight campus sites. NCAA Quarterfinal action will be held Nov. 25, 26 or 27 on four campus sites with the Women’s College Cup set for Dec. 2 and 4 in Kennesaw, Ga.

Saturday’s match will be the second meeting this season between the two teams. Five different Gators scored as Florida turned in a 5-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast University on Sept. 11 in the first ever meeting between the two teams. The Gators got goals from Tessa Andujar, Erika Tymrak, Lauren Silver, Caroline Triglia and Lindsay Thompson.

This is the Gators’ 15th appearance in the NCAA Championships’ field. Florida’s Becky Burleigh, who has been the head coach for each of the program’s 17 seasons and is still the only woman to lead her team to the NCAA title in 1998, knows now is the time to focus on all aspects of the game.

“In the NCAA Tournament, it is a different mentality because it is one-and-done. Everyone knows that so it is important to make sure you are paying attention to the details, whether that is set pieces, matching up man-to-man or executing your job under pressure,” Burleigh said. “Those details are what make the difference between wins and losses at this stage of the season.”

Florida received one of the 34 at-large berths to advance to the program’s 15th NCAA Championships’ field. In last year’s NCAA action, Florida reached the second round, falling 4-2 in penalty kicks to Duke. Florida has played host to at least one round of NCAA Championship action 13 of the 15 seasons the team has received a NCAA berth.

Burleigh knows the Gators will be excited to play in front of the home crowd again.

“Our crowds have been tremendous this year,” Burleigh said. “The fact that they are so supportive really is a big boost to our team.”

Florida is 11-6 against teams in the 2011 tournament field. The Gators have registered wins against No. 3 region seed Texas A&M, Alabama (Oct. 9 and Nov. 4), Auburn (Oct. 7), Florida Gulf Coast, Florida International, Georgia (Sept. 23 and Nov. 2), Kansas, Kentucky and Miami. UF has losses versus No. 1 region seed Florida State, No. 2 region seed UCLA, Auburn (Nov. 6), LSU, South Carolina and Tennessee.

A league-record eight SEC teams received bids – Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Tennessee and South Carolina. That number is second only to the nine berths awarded to Atlantic Coast Conference.

About Saturday’s opponent:
Florida Gulf Coast (14-4-2, 7-1-1 A-Sun) is making its first NCAA appearance in 2011, not only for the soccer team, but for the entire FGCU athletic program. FGCU received notification Aug. 11 that it is officially a NCAA Division I member after waiting out the four-year Division I transition period.

The Eagles won its first Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship yesterday with a 1-0 double overtime decision over Mercer in FGCU’s first appearance in the conference tournament.

Senior Gina Petracco leads the Eagles with 21 points off of eight goals and five assists. Redshirt junior Ashley Ciesielczyk is the FGCU assist leader with 12. FGCU senior goalkeeper Stephanie Powers owns a goals against average of 0.67 and has 12 shutouts.

NCAA Soccer Championship Information - Gainesville, Fla. Site
Match Times: Saturday, Nov. 12
7 p.m. - Florida (16-7) versus Florida Gulf Coast (14-4-2)
Tickets: $7.00 adults
$3.00 children 12 & under, students and senior citizens
First 200 UF students with identification are admitted free
For more information, contact the UAA Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683, ext. 6800 or 1-800-34GATOR, ext. 6800 (state of Florida only)
Internet: Live stats available on www.NCAASports.com; live audio & video for UF-FGCU match available at www.GatorZone.com