Tampa- The Florida Gators soccer team played their first exhibition game against fellow SEC foe Texas A&M at Ed Radice Field in Tampa on Monday night. The game was played in three thirty minute periods rather than the customary two forty-five minute halves.
The Gators won the contest 2-1 behind goals from senior Meggie Dougherty Howard and sophomore Mayra Pelayo.
In the eighth minute Texas A&M’s Emily Bates netted the first goal, giving the Aggies the 1-0 advantage. Dougherty Howard scored the equalizer goal in the 24th minute. Pelayo put the Gators on top in the 45th minute.
The Gators face South Florida on Saturday at Corbett Stadium on the USF campus in their final preseason tune up before opening the regular season against Iowa State on August 19 in Gainesville.
Florida enters the season ranked number 7, while Texas A&M enters ranked number 8 in the polls.