By the Numbers: 3 Stats That Explain Florida Soccer’s Hot Start
The Florida women’s soccer team is on a three-game winning streak after Thursday night’s 6-0 victory against Jacksonville University. The Gators also captured their first win over No. 3 Florida State since 2015 earlier in the week.
After struggling to find consistency in recent years, new head coach Nick Zimmerman looks to have found a new rhythm for the Gators. The reason behind the program’s early success is hidden in the numbers.
1. Pressure
The Gators are putting constant pressure on their opponents by taking shots. Florida has shot 49 times in its three-game surge, including 14 against rival Florida State, doubling its seven shots from last year’s 5-0 loss. Out of the 49 shots, the Gators have put 30 on target and have netted 12. In their win streak, the Gators are averaging four goals and 16.3 shots per game compared to last year’s 1.44 and 11.8 respectively.
Beyond shots, Florida is putting more pressure on opposing teams with its corner kicks. During the streak, the Gators hold a 15-9 advantage on corners while scoring on three.
2. Emerging Star
Senior transfer Kyra Taylor has emerged as a star for Florida. Taylor was a key addition that Zimmerman brought over from Mississippi State. She has already matched her goal total from last season with four. Taylor has also produced almost a quarter of Florida’s shots during their win streak.
Against Coastal Carolina, she made an immediate impact after coming off the bench in the 17th minute by scoring two goals in a 11-minute span. She kept the hot boot going, scoring the Gators’ first two goals in their 3-1 win over Florida State.
“Kyra does everything right. Not only is she a great footballer, she is an incredible human being, so selfless.” Zimmerman said, “Are we surprised that she had the game she had? No, she does it every day in training.”
3. Early Scoring
The Gators have come out scoring early during their surge. Florida has scored on or before the 22nd minute in every game, including a goal in the seventh minute against Jacksonville.
Not only are the Gators scoring early in the first half, but they are replicating it in the second. Four of Florida’s 12 goals have come within 20 minutes of the second half. In total, the Gators have scored 66% of their goals within 22 minutes of the start of either half.
The Gators will look to keep up the pressure at Florida Atlantic on Sunday with kickoff at 1 p.m.
Category: Gator Sports, Gators Soccer
