Florida Soccer Plays Host to Duke Sunday for NCAA Round of 16 Action
Saturday, November 21, 2015 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Florida – No. 2 region seed Florida and No. 3 seed Duke meet Sunday, Nov. 22 for NCAA Soccer Third Round play. Match time is set for 2 p.m. ET at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
|
| |
|
| |
| NCAA Championships Third Round No. 2 regional seed Florida (19-3-1, 8-2-1 SEC) versus No. 3 regional seed Duke (12-5-4, 4-3-3 ACC) Date & Time: Nov. 22 @ 2 p.m. ET
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| @UFGatorSoccer (Becky Burleigh) |
|
| |
|
| |
Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children (12 and under), senior citizen and students. The first 200 UF students showing a Gator1 identification are admitted free.
Florida leads the all-time series with Duke 6-4-2, but the Blue Devils have eliminated the Gators from NCAA play in both post-season meetings. Duke took a 4-2 penalty kick advantage after the teams played to a 0-0 2OT tie at Pressly Stadium in 2010 NCAA Second Round action. Duke won 1-0 when the teams met in 2013 NCAA Second Round action in Durham, North Carolina.
NCAA Action Starts This Weekend:
UF is one of eight programs playing host to 2015 NCAA Second and Third Round action this weekend. NCAA Quarterfinal action will be held Nov. 27, 28 or 29 on four campus sites with the Women's College Cup set for Dec. 4 & 6 at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. This is the seventh time the NCAA Women's College Cup will be played in Cary.
Here's how to follow the Gators
Can't be in Gainesville for Sunday's match? Here's how to follow the action:
• Follow the stream of the Florida-Duke match on SEC Network +. Adam Schick and Matthew Stubbington will call the action for SEC Network +.
• Hear former Gator goalkeeper Taylor Burke and Joel Sebastianelli's call of the match on ESPN 95.3FM/850AM or GatorZone.com.
Gators in NCAA Second Round Action:
The Gators posted a 5-2 win over William & Mary Friday at Dizney Stadium. Florida took a 1-0 lead into halftime after a 20-yard strike from junior Meggie Dougherty Howard in the 40th minute. The scoreboard lit up in the second half, as six goals were scored between the two teams – including four Gator goals. Junior Savannah Jordan scored the first goal of the half in the 59th minute and freshman Sarah Troccoli added another just over a minute later. Jordan registered her sixth multi-goal match of 2015 with her strike in the 71st minute. Junior Pamela Begič scored between the Tribes' two goals to help Florida to a 5-2 win. It is the Gators' largest goal output in NCAA play since the 1998 season.
Jordan's goals give her 24 for 2015, setting her career-high season total (previous high: 22 in 2013). Her career total now stands at 65 – which stands fourth on Florida's and SEC career charts and is one away from tying Danielle Fotopoulos for third on UF's all-time chart. Jordan is the first Gator to move into the program's top four for career goals in 14 seasons as Florida's two leaders – Abby Wambach (96) and Andi Sellers (71) - both finished their collegiate careers in 2001.
Two Gators are among the SEC and NCAA offensive leaders. Jordan leads in goals (24) and points (55) while Westphal is tops in assist (13). Sharp checks in tied for sixth for goals (11) and eighth in points (26). Jordan is No. 2 nationally for goals and points. Westphal is among nation's top four with her 13 assists.
About the Duke Blue Devils:
Duke is making its 21st appearance in the NCAA Championship field, claiming an at-large berth in 2015. The Blue Devils took eighth in the rugged Atlantic Coast Conference with its 2015 league record of 4-3-3 and their 2015 schedule ranks as the nation's second-toughest. Duke has yet to concede a goal in 2015 NCAA play, opening tournament play with a 5-0 win over James Madison and claiming a 2-0 victory versus Florida Gulf Coast in Friday's NCAA Second Round. Sunday, Duke will be looking for its fourth NCAA Quarterfinal berth since 2007.
Taylor Racioppi, a 2015 ACC All-Freshman selection, leads the team with 17 points off six goals and five assists. Sophomore goalkeeper EJ Proctor has 18 starts and boasts a 0.63 goal-against-average (ranks No. 33 in latest NCAA stats) and the shutout versus FGCU was her 10th of 2015.
Duke is coached by Robbie Church, who has led the Blue Devils to NCAA action 13 times in his 15 years with DU.
Team Records:
Florida: 19-3-1, 8-2-1 SEC
DU: 12-5-4, 4-3-3 ACC
Rankings:
Florida is ranked No. 5 on the November 10 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll and Duke is No. 20.
