Gators Home Opener vs FIU

The No. 7 University of Florida soccer team (1-0, 0-0 SEC) opens the 2009 home season Friday, Aug. 28 against Florida International (1-0, 0-0 Sun Belt). Match time is set for 7 p.m. at the James G. Pressly Stadium. The first 2,500 fans at Friday’s home opener receive a 2009 UF soccer/volleyball schedule magnet courtesy of SUN Sports. Admission is free for all 2009 Gator soccer regular-season matches.

Last season, Florida posted a record of 19-4-1, won its ninth Southeastern Conference team title with its 11-0 league record and advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 (losing 2-1 to Texas A&M). In 2009, FIU posted a record of 4-12-3 and finished tied for sixth in the Sun Belt Conference. Florida is the preseason pick to win the 2009 SEC title. In the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll, the Golden Panthers were picked to finish sixth overall.

Florida opened the 2009 season with a 1-0 win at Miami last Friday. Senior Ashlee Elliott headed in the game winner in the 49^th minute off the assist from fellow senior Tricia Townsend. The goal upped Elliott’s collegiate total to 14 and Friday’s score was her third scored by a header. Elliott and fellow senior Lauren Hyde both are returning All-Southeastern Conference selections. Both are part of the 11-member 2009 All-SEC preseason team.

Florida International opened the season with a 3-0 win at Stetson last Friday. FIU senior midfielder Amy Jackson took part in a five-day training camp with the Australian National Team early in the summer. Jackson, the MVP of FIU’s 2007 season, missed almost half of the 2008 campaign with a back injury. FIU Head Coach Thomas Chestnutt worked with the Gator soccer team as a student coach from 2001-04 while he was working toward his Ph.D. in environmental engineering at UF.

Florida returns eight starters from 2008 NCAA Tournament play. The top returning scorers are sophomores Tahnai Annis (9 goals, 4 assists, 22 points) and Lindsay Thompson (7g, 3a, 17pt) plus seniors Elliott (4g, 3a, 11pts) and Angela Napolitano (5g, 3a, 13pts). Florida also returns four other starting field players – senior Lauren Hyde and Caitlin Howard, junior Nicky Kit and sophomore Jazmyne Avant. Junior goalkeeper Katie Fraine turned in 10 starts in 2008, including all three of Florida’s 2008 NCAA matches.

Live, streaming video can be seen at www.GatorZone.com – just click on the GatorVision icon for more information. Friday’s match can also be heard live on AM 850 WRUF and www.GatorZone.com. Adam Schick and Matthew Stubbington will cover the action Friday.