Florida Opens SEC Home Action vs No. 22 Texas Friday

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida soccer (3-3-5, 0-2-1 SEC) opens Southeastern Conference home action Friday versus No. 22 Texas. Match time is 7 p.m. at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
 
Texas is Florida’s fourth opponent ranked in United Soccer Coaches top 25 this season, which leads the league’s 16 programs.
 
This is the sixth time in the program’s 30 seasons that UF opens SEC home play in October, with the last on Oct. 1, 2010 versus Mississippi State. Florida is 20-6-3 all-time in SEC home openers.
 
Friday, Texas makes its second trip to The Diz and first as a SEC member:

• Texas returned to the United Soccer Coaches top 25 poll after registering two wins last week – at Mississippi (1-0) and versus Texas A&M (2-0)
• Two Longhorns – seniors All-Americans Trinity Byars and Lexi Missimo – appear on the 2024 Hermann Trophy Watch List. Missimo was a 2023 semifinalist for collegiate soccer’s highest individual honor.

 
2024 Florida Season Stats
 
No. 22 Texas (9-1-2, 2-1-1 SEC)

• Date: Friday, Oct. 4
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Site: Donald R. Dizney Stadium (1,500) – gates open at 6 p.m.
• Stream: SEC Network + with Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington calling the action
• Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM/850 AM with Ryan Urquhart and Nevada Cullen calling the action
• StatBroadcast
• Admission: Free
• Promotions: Gainesville Youth teams are invited to the Diz to enjoy face painters, balloon artists, games and more pre match! The first 250 fans receive a Gator Rally Towel.

 
Florida in SEC Opening Weekend
The Gators lost 2-0 at Missouri on Sunday. Florida’s Sept. 29 home match versus Tennessee was postponed due to the approach of Hurricane Helene. 
 
Despite outshooting the Tigers 20-7, the Gators couldn’t get the ball past MU goalkeeper Kate Phillips, who registered nine saves Sunday. The Tigers made the most of their early set play opportunities as both goals in the opening eight minutes started with corner kicks. Olivia Chianelli touched in the at the post for the Tigers first goal in the sixth minute. MU was awarded a penalty kick off a foul in play after their second corner kick and Kylee Simmons successfully converted it for the final goal of the match.
 
The Gators did have some good opportunities to score. In the 17^th minute, Lauren McCloskey sent the ball ahead to just wide of the MU box. Lena Bailey won the ball from two defenders, but hit the near post with her 10 yard shot.
 
UF goalkeeper Jayden Emmanuel, who played the…