Vols Drop Heartbreaker at #12 Florida

Sunday, September 25

Gainesville, FL

5:00 PM

University of Tennessee

2-26-5, SEC

Florida

2-27-3, SEC

Tennessee

Florida

September 25, 2016 | Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 25, 2016

Box Score | Highlights

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Tennessee dropped a hard-fought contest to No. 12/9 Florida in a highly entertaining match on Sunday evening at James G. Pressly Stadium in Gainesville. Two second-half goals propelled the Gators to a 2-0 victory and also snapped a three-game winning streak for the Volunteers.

UT goalkeepers Shae Yanez and Jamie Simmons combined to make 13 saves on the night while the back four showed tremendous effort throughout the game against one of the top scoring teams in the nation. Unfortunately, Savannah Jordan broke through with a goal in the 69th minute that turned out to be the difference in an intense battle between longtime SEC rivals.

The Gators outshot the Volunteers, 24-8, but were unable to find the back of the net until midway through the second half when Jordan netted what turned out to be the game winner. Hannah Wilkinson led the Big Orange with three shots while Mary Alice Vignola chipped in with two as well.

Yanez was spectacular for UT in the first half, as the sophomore goalkeeper set a new career high with eight saves in the first 45 minutes alone.

After weathering the Gators' early storm, the Vols started to gain some traction offensively late in the half. UT controlled possession and recorded both of its first-half shots during the final 15 minutes of action. The Orange and White also created five corner kicks in the opening stanza compared to just two for Florida as the teams entered the break locked in a scoreless tie.

UT started quickly in the second half and nearly took the lead just over a minute and a half in, but UF goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese made a great save on Vignola before Wilkinson's rebound attempt was blocked by a Gator defender. The Vols surpassed their entire shot total from the first half with three shots in the first eight minutes of the second.

Despite the early pressure to open the half, Tennessee found themselves behind when Jordan broke through to open the scoring with her eighth goal of the year. Jordan was able to fend off a Vols' defender before sliding a low shot past Simmons from the top of the six-yard box.

Florida continued to apply pressure after the goal, forcing Simmons to make a handful of saves. UT's back four also displayed great effort by blocking a number of shots to keep the game within reach.

Ariel Kupritz nearly found an equalizer for the Vols but her shot towards the back post went just high in the 81st minute. Florida's Sammie Betters put the game away by scoring her first-career goal with just under two minutes to play.

UT was held scoreless for the first time in eight games and also had its shutout streak of nearly 353 minutes snapped in the loss.

The Vols now return home to host a pair of games next week, starting with another SEC rival on Friday night when Vanderbilt visits Regal Stadium.