The Florida Gators had plenty to prove Thursday in a night of several firsts for the team.
Nick Zimmerman debuted as Florida’s coach, leading a team made up of 18 newcomers. All three of Florida’s goals were scored by former Mississippi State players playing in their first games in orange and blue. Other players, including freshmen Iori Watanabe and Mia Gray, made their NCAA debuts.
Coming off a 7-1 exhibition win over FIU on Saturday, Florida looked to start the season on a high note. And for a while, it seemed like Zimmerman’s plan was working out perfectly for the Gators. Florida was in the driver’s seat for the first part of the game, creating several opportunities and holding most of the possession.
Despite a strong first-half performance, the Gators (0-1-0) struggled to keep up with Central Florida (1-0-0) on Thursday, dropping their season opener 4-3 at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex.
“We created a number of chances,” Zimmerman said postgame. “It was just one of those nights.”
One minute in, senior forward Zoe Main capitalized on a short UCF goal kick, corralling the loose ball just outside the box and finishing with an angled shot to the far post to put the Gators up 1-0. In the 18th minute, sophomore midfielder Adia Symmonds also logged a goal, scoring off of a corner kick.
But in the 25th minute, the Knights responded, logging its longest period of possession in the first half. Naomi Clark spearheaded the attack, scoring her first goal of the night.
The end of the first half was characterized by several opportunities for the Gators, including three corner kicks and a huge attempt from senior defender Lena Bailey. The Gators went into halftime up 2-1, looking to hold the lead.
However, the Knights came out of the locker room with an intensity that the Gators struggled to match. Three minutes in, UCF midfielder Ella Holloran found the back of the net to tie the game. Less than five minutes later, Clark scored again, securing her first brace of the season and putting the Knights in the lead.
Despite the loss of momentum, Florida kept trying to put pressure on Central Florida, with redshirt sophomore forward Addy Hess and senior forward Montelene Dymond each creating significant chances.
In the last 10 minutes of the game, things seemed to go downhill for the Gators, with Symmonds suffering an injury that took her out of the game. Then, Watanabe fouled UCF’s Gabi Berchon in the box, giving up a penalty kick. Berchon, UCF’s top returning offensive player, scored to increase the lead 4-2.
A UCF handball in the last minute helped the Gators lighten the load. Senior defender Hannah Jibril took the penalty and brought the score to 4-3. Despite the goal, it was too late for a comeback and Florida logged its first loss of the season.
“They are a very good team and they punished us,” Zimmerman said. “The good news is it is the first game; the mistakes that we made are correctable and solvable.”
Zimmerman added that the team will focus on watching film and getting more reps in as the regular season kicks off.
The Gators will head back to Gainesville to prepare for their home opener against Coastal Carolina on Aug. 20. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
