A miracle three goal comeback from the Gators was electric, however, a goal with five minutes of play remaining would ultimately give the Bulldogs the 4-3 win.
A season high three goal effort was not enough for the Gators, dropping the squad to 3-10-3 in 2021.
UGA found offensive success quite easily early due to the lacking defensive pressure from the Gators. The Bulldogs were able to draw in the Gators centrally to allow them to create space on the far side.
This provided results for Georgia in the eight minute when the Gator’s were unable to clear a Mollie Belise shot attempt from the far side. Senior Dani Murguia put the rebound in the back of the net for her eight goal of the season and a 1-0 Bulldogs lead.
Later in the half, Goldberg was charged with a foul after a sliding save attempt knocked Tori Penn to the ground. Sophomore Madison Haugen scored on the resulting penalty, giving the Bulldogs a two goal lead heading to the half.
Coming out of the break, the Bulldogs flashed their ball movement skills. Abby Boyan found Belise who quickly found Murgia who put a left footed shot to the far post into the net making it a 3-0 match.
As all hope seemed lost for the Gators, graduate student Madison Alexander supplied a lifeline. Alexander made a strong cut with the ball, dropping the Bulldogs defender to the wet ground, took a shot, and scored.
The Gators would not stop there. Kit Loferski created a spark when she drove the ball to the endline and put it in front of the net. Freshman Riley Thompson drove the ball in for the goal, the first of her collegiate career, and decreased the Bulldogs lead to one.
In the 65th minute, Georgia would go down to ten players. The fourth referee, who entered the match due to an injury to another referee early in the second half, called a red card on Georgia defender Ceciliy Stoute. Stoute brought down Loferski as a last effort in a goal scoring opportunity.
Sophomore Nicole Vernis scored on the resulting set piece, tying the match at three goals a piece.
Things were going the Gators way until the 85th minute. The Bulldogs created more damage on the far side as Murguia drove down with the ball before crossing it into the box for Mollie Belisle to put Georgia ahead 4-3 for the win.
Despite the loss, Florida will look to use this match as some momentum heading into a huge match Sunday at 12 p.m. in Gainesville versus the LSU Tigers. The Gators currently sit one point ahead of the Tigers for the tenth and final seed in the SEC tournament, pending the results of LSU’s Thursday night game against South Carolina.