No. 2 Florida State and Miami are on road, UF returns home to host Vanderbilt
By Official Florida FC
FLORIDA STATE AT VIRGINIA, 3:30 PM
Florida State (5-0-0) continues its road trip that began with a 4-1 win over Pittsburgh on Thursday night. The Seminoles head to Charlottesville to face the only team that beat the Seminoles twice last season.
“I think our kids are putting themselves in dangerous spots, and then, they are making their opportunities count by getting their shot on the goal and putting the ball toward the corners,” Florida State soccer coach Mark Krikorian told Seminoles.com. “So, we’re happy we have had as much consistency so early in the season as we have in front of goal. Hopefully, it continues this weekend.”
Florida State averages 3.5 goals per game, the highest mark in Division I soccer.
Virginia (5-1-1) has three Floridians on its roster, including senior goalie Laurel Ivory and freshman midfielder Lia Godfrey — a Fleming Island resident who is a member of the U.S. Under-19 national team. Godfrey has produced two goals and three assists in 568 minutes this year.
Godfrey and the Cavaliers will try to breach a Seminoles defense that has allowed one goal in five games.
MIAMI AT PITT, 1:30 P.M.
Virginia Tech set a school record for goals scored in Thursday night’s win over the Hurricanes. Miami will not have long to overcome any embarrassment sustained on the pitch. Pitt (8-3) has scored 27 goals this season. The Panthers have the nation’s leading scorer, senior forward Amanda West, who has produced a goal in four of her last five games.
Miami (0-6) enters the contest with a 4.16 goals against average, the worst mark in the ACC.
VANDERBILT AT FLORIDA, 6 P.M.
The Gators (1-1-1) return home for the first time in a fortnight to play an opponent they have dominated. Florida is 28-3-1 all-time against Vanderbilt. The Comodores (1-3) have lost three straight matches, each by a goal. Four of the five goals Vanderbilt has allowed during its losing streak have come on set pieces.
The Gators lost their first game of 2020 2-1 on Oct. 11 against then- No. 11 Texas A&M in part due to miscues of their own. Texas A&M scored an Olympico in the 22nd minute and a clumsy Gators challenge led to an Aggies penalty kick in the 28th.
It’s likely the team that plays a cleaner match in the back will be victorious on Sunday.
For Vanderbilt seniors Madiya Harriott (Davie), Leila Azari (Jacksonville) and Olivia Simmons (Rockledge), Sunday’s match may be the last time the Florida residents have an opportunity to play a competitive match in the Sunshine State.
