BOCA RATON — Ninety minutes was not enough for Florida soccer’s season-opening match. Extra minutes were needed Friday for the Gators in a 1-0 overtime win over Florida Atlantic at FAU Stadium.
The Gators outshot the Owls 14-2, but it wasn’t until midway through the first overtime Florida got one past FAU goalkeeper Jennifer Ocampo. Freshman Deanne Rose was fouled in the box, awarding the Gators a penalty kick.
Redshirt senior Gabby Seiler, who was just named Gator team captain at the pre-match meal, stepped up to take the kick. That shot provided Florida with the golden goal winner.
“I just wanted to do it for my team,” Seiler said. “I thought we worked really hard the whole game. We just couldn’t get it in the back of the net. I decided to take a deep breath and just finish it for all our hard work.”
UF coach Becky Burleigh thought her team played well.
“I thought we did some really great stuff,” Burleigh said. “We created a lot of opportunities and credit to FAU for keeping them out of the back of the net. We had some really good 1v1, some good situations right in front of the net.
“I thought they did a good job defensively. We’ve got to clean up a few things, but it is the first game of the season and we certainly have a lot of room to grow.”
Florida opens home action Sunday by playing host to Troy (0-1), which lost 1-0 to Mercer on Friday. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at James G. Pressly Stadium.
