Oregon State
Florida
Women's Soccer Falls to Florida 3-1
August 26, 2013 | Women's Soccer
Gainesville, Fla. – The Oregon State Women's Soccer Team lost a tough match to #9 University of Florida with a final score of 3-1.
The Beavers made a change from Friday's starting lineup, adding senior midfielder Erin Uchacz as an attacking player at the top of the midfield diamond. The rest of the lineup remained the same.
The Gators jumped out to an early lead as freshman Savannah Jordan found the back of the net in the 11th minute. Teammate Claire Falknor played the ball on the ground across the 18, finding the foot of Jordan who redirected it past keeper Audrey Bernier-Larose.
The Beavers later had a chance of their own as senior captain Jacy Drobney stood at the 30 yard mark for a free kick. Drobney drove the ball to the back of the six, finding the head of Uchacz who redirected it back post, but Florida's keeper Taylor Burke was able to come up with the save.
In the 39th minute the Gators capitalized on another opportunity, bringing the score to 2-0. As the ball bounced around in the 18, Jordan found the back of the net for her second of the night. The Beavers went into half trailing by two.
Twenty-three minutes into the second half, the Beavers came within one as senior forward Chelsea Buckland scored her first goal of the season. Buckland capitalized on a poor clearance from Florida's back line, turned and volleyed it on the full to the bottom corner of the net, bringing the score to 2-1.
The Beavers continued to attack the Gator back line, but were not able to find the net again. Within the last 10 minutes of the game, Florida's Jordan would find the back of the net again for her third goal of the night off a 1 v. 1 breakaway, giving the Gator's a 3-1 win.
“Tonight we gave up two early goals against a very good Florida team,” said Head Coach Linus Rhode. “We showed character to pull within one and it was unfortunate to give up a late goal when we were pushing for the equalizer.”
It was clear to see that the Beavs were pushing for the equalizer as they continued to put pressure on Florida's back line throughout the half, Buckland's goal being an example that pressure.
“We had won the ball in the attacking third and I was able to counter on a miss-clear; I turned and hit it on the volley into the bottom corner,” Buckland said. “It was a good, hard-fought game.”
“This opening weekend had been our toughest yet and we will take away a lot from it,” Rhode said.
The Beavers return to Corvallis for their home opener against Texas next Friday.
