ChompTalk.com

An early goal to open the scoring on Thursday night would not nearly be enough for the Gators as they dropped their third straight match. 

Top-ranked rival Florida State triumphed over Florida 5-2, remaining perfect and dwindling the Gators to 0-4-1.

Graduate Kit Loferski became the second Gator ever to open the season with Florida’s first three goals (the other being Sara Yohe in 1997) when she sent a ball past the Florida State goalkeeper off a pass from Alivia Gonzalez. Her goal gave the Gators their first lead all season and ended the team’s 213 minute scoring drought.

Less than a minute of play later, Florida Junior Cameron Hall would conceded a penalty as FSU entered the box.

Jaelin Howell, 2020-21 MAC Hermann Trophy winner, would convert on the spot-kick, evening the score, killing the Gators’ momentum.

Florida State’s attack did not stagnate. Former Gator Beatta Olsson made a highlight worthy play as she scored on an impressive bicycle kick of the cross to put the Seminoles in front.

Insurance was added when forward Clara Robbins scored a third unanswered goal for the Seminoles with fifteen minutes remaining in the first half. 

Halftime did not interrupt the Seminole’s attack as Olsson was able to score her second goal off the corner kick, extending the Florida State lead to 4-1.

Florida’s mistakes piled on with another foul in the box. Clara Robbins executed on the penalty kick. The five Florida State goals marked their highest ever scored against instate rival Florida.

Florida would end the game on a lighter note. Transfer Shaye Seyffart got a secondary shot to go in off a corner, giving the Gators their first multi goal game this season.

Coach Amato and the Gator’s are hoping this last second goal can push the team in the right direction for the remainder of the season.

“I think every time out, practice or games, we have been taking a step and trying to grow in terms of our work rate… and figuring out what it takes to win at this level” Amato said. “I do think we have more in us and we’re going to keep pushing forward so by the time the season’s over we’re where we need to be.”

The road trip will resume on Sunday at 1 p.m. when Florida heads to Fort Myers to face Florida Gulf Coast.