Practice Begins for Gator Soccer

Gainesville, Fla. - Wednesday August 5, 2009

The 2009-10 University of Florida athletic year officially began Wednesday afternoon when the Gator soccer team held its first practice. The soccer team was the first Florida team to start practice for the upcoming season as football opens practice Thursday morning.

Soccer was the first of six Gator teams to claim Southeastern Conference titles in 2008-09, claiming its third consecutive crown with an 11-0 league record. Florida was the first SEC team to post an undefeated record since the league began round-robin play in 2004. The 2008 Gators posted a 19-4-1 overall record and returns eight starters from last season’s NCAA Round of 16 team. Florida finished the season ranked No. 10 in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll.

A roster of 33, matching the largest number in the team’s 15-year history, started practice Wednesday. The 2009 Gators will be a youthful team, as 25 are either freshmen or sophomores. Two All-Southeastern Conference selections, seniors Ashlee Elliott and Lauren Hyde, return for the Gators. Three SEC All-Freshman team members – Tahnai Annis, Jazmyne Avant and Lindsay Thompson – are back in 2009.  Florida’s top four returning scorers from 2008 include Annis (9 goals, 4 assists, 22 points), Thompson (7g, 3a, 17pts), senior Angela Napolitano (5g, 3a, 13pt) and Elliott (4g, 3a, 11pts).

The 11-member freshman class is a talented group, including five that bring All-America honors by either the NSCAA, ESPN RISE or EA Sport to the Florida program. Those five include Kayla Bayla, Holly King, Brooke Thigpen, Natalia Torosian and Erika Tymrak.

Soccer will be the first Florida team to compete this season, as the Gators open the 2009 campaign at Miami (Fla.) on Aug. 21. The home season begins with pair of in-state rivals – Florida International on Friday, Aug. 28 and USF on Sunday, Aug. 30. The 2009 season will be challenging for the Gators, as half of Florida’s 20 regular-season opponents received berths in the 2008 NCAA Championships’ 64-team field.