ChompTalk.com

The Florida Gators are 1-0 to open the season following a 2-0 win over Western Carolina Friday evening in front of the largest crowd season opening crowd in the program’s thirty year history.

The Gators took the lead late in the first half and carried the momentum into halftime. Florida dominated the action throughout the first forty-five minutes of play, leading to numerous scoring chances.

“We were really happy, especially with the first half. We thought we came out with some intensity and created some chances,” said head coach Samantha Bohon, entering her third year at Florida.

The Gators first real opportunity came in the opening minutes when Madison Jones attempted a pair of shots just past the 18-yard box on the left side of the field. In the 14th minute, Jones fed a pass to a wide open Vera Blom, but the connection was just a bit off and out of Blom’s reach.

When the Gators finally did put the ball in the net, it came off a corner kick as Delaney Tauzel found Madison Young’s head and snuck into the right side of the goal.

The second half saw a lot of back and forth momentum from both teams. It seemed every time the Gators put together a good chance, the Catamounts would stage an opportunity of their own. Bohon made the move to Paloma Pena in the second half to relieve Alexa Goldberg in the goal and the move paid off. Pena made a pair of saves but also did a good job of cutting off angles and communicating with her back line to preserve the clean sheet.

A hard foul in the 81st minute put Florida at the penalty kick marker. Lauren Donovan sent a shot to the left side of the net but WCU GK Leanne Trudel made an incredible save to keep it a 1-0 ballgame.

Six minutes later, Njeri Butts ran down the left side, dodging defenders on her way near the end line, sent the ball across the box into the waiting foot of Delaney Tellex. Tellex was able to send it to the back of the net to extend the lead to 2-0 and clinch the victory for the Gators.

The Gators attempted twenty shots while WCU finished with seven. Florida fired nine shots on target.

The Gators improved to 1-0 with the win. Florida will travel to Jacksonville on Thursday to take on North Florida. The match is set for 7:00 PM and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.