Gator Soccer Kicks Off Season This Friday

The Florida Gators soccer team will begin the regular season this Friday night, kicking off the 2016 season against Iowa State. These two teams have never played each other before, which should make for an exciting first game for the Florida Gators. The game will begin at 7 p.m. at Presley Stadium. The Gators have a lot of pressure on their backs going into the first game of the season, they are picked to win the 2016 SEC Conference Title.

Where has the time gone?! This group starts their senior season Friday#Gators vs @cycloneSCR -7pm Pressly Stadium pic.twitter.com/mZlzAOtgMG

— Gators Soccer (@GatorsSoccer) August 17, 2016

The Gators are ranked seventh in the nation before Friday’s game. Florida will return eight starters from the 2015 team who made it to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. Head coach of the Florida Gators, Becky Burleigh, says her entire team has made each other better during the pre-season. Senior forward Savannah Jordan will start her final season with the Gators as a three time All-American and three time All-SEC First Team selection. Jordan has also been named the SEC Offensive Player of year twice in her collegiate career. Florida will welcome thirteen freshman to the team this season, the fourth-largest class ever for Gator soccer.

The Gators will stay very busy this weekend. Along with their first game Friday night against Iowa State they will also host Florida Atlantic University at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Florida will look to finish the weekend with two wins, however Burleigh says she believes her team will get better in time.