Two Freshmen Goals Give No. 17 Florida Soccer 2-0 Win Over No. 18 Illinois

9/12/08

GAINESVILLE, Fla. –Second-half goals from a pair of freshmen gave the No. 17 University of Florida soccer team (4-1-1, 0-0 SEC) a 2-0 win over No. 18 Illinois (4-2, 0-0 Big Ten) Friday evening in front of a James G.
Pressly crowd of 1,837.

A set play gave the Gators their first goal early in the second half.
Ameera Abdullah’s corner kick landed just above the center of the six-yard box. Lindsay Thompson flicked the ball to the top of the box where Sarah Chapman found her opportunity. Chapman's one-timer shot hit the crossbar and ricocheted past the line for her first collegiate goal.


Chapman, who played defense for much of her club career, couldn't pinpoint the last time she scored. But tonight's goal is unlikely to be forgotten.

"All I saw was Lindsay Thompson. She went to near post and flicked it.
I didn't hesitate when I saw the ball. I just smacked it," Chapman said.
"I was thrilled. My breath was taken away. I haven't scored a goal for awhile now. Scoring my first collegiate goal meant a lot to me.

"At halftime, Mel Booth (former Gator All-American) told me 'Just score' so I had what she said in my head," she continued. "When I saw that ball, I just put my head down and smacked it. I'm lovin' it."

The Gators scored again six minutes later. Ashlee Elliott sent the ball wide where Jazmyne Avant took control and moved deep into the Illini box. Her centering cross was deflected, but the ball found Tahnai Annis, who one-timed it into the upper netting for her team-leading fourth goal of the season.

"I'm pretty sure it came off a cross that the keeper had hit down,"
Annis said. "It was just bouncing in the box and I basically threw my body at it to get whatever I could on it."

Although the Gators won their second consecutive shutout versus a top-20 team (UF defeated then No. 4 Florida State 1-0 Sept. 7), UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh said the Gators did not play in sync tonight - something they will need to improve prior to their trip to No. 6 Portland for a match on Sept. 19.

“I really didn’t think we played very well tonight. To be able to not play very well and win against a ranked opponent is good. But we know we’re going to be facing an even tougher team on Friday in Portland.

“We scored a couple of goals and that definitely helped relax things. I didn’t think we played particularly well after halftime either. We were just not in sync offensively tonight. It’s good to win when we’re not doing that, but at the same time we need to take steps forward. We have to get on the same page offensively a little bit more.”

For the match, Illinois' Alexandra Kapicka and Florida's Meghan Berlingo each turned in four saves. Florida turned in 12 shots Friday, while the Illini posted nine.

Next up, Florida makes its first trip to the state of Oregon to face perennial power Portland on Friday, Sept. 19. Match time is set for 9 p.m. (ET) at the Harry A. Merlo Field at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex. The match can be heard live on WRUF AM 850.

Scoring Summary: 1st 2nd Final
Illinois 0 0 0
Florida 0 2 0

Scoring:
UF – Sarah Chapman (Ameera Abdullah, Lindsay Thompson) 48:38 UF – Tahnai Annis (Ashlee Elliott, Jazmyne Avant) 54:47

Goalkeepers:
Minutes Saves GA
Illinois Alexandra Kapicka 90:00 4 2
Florida Meghan Berlingo 90:00 4 0

Statistical Summary: ILL UF
Shots 9 12
Saves 4 4
Corner Kicks 4 5
Fouls 8 14
Offside 3 1