Florida Wins 2-1 vs South Florida in Exhibition Action

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida soccer’s preseason training began Wednesday. Day 4 of preseason action finished with a 2-1 Gator exhibition win over USF Saturday evening at the Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
 
It was the first action against an opposing team for both programs. The exhibition was moved up a day in anticipation of the impact in the Gainesville area from Tropical Storm Debby.
 
It was the Bulls scoring first off a deflection three minutes in the first of three 30-minute periods.

Sophomore Lena Bailey got things going for the Gators quickly in the second period, winning the ball and then heading toward goal on an angled run. Her right footed shot scored at the near post.

 

In the 41^st minute, senior Lauren Donovan was tripped as she moved through the box. She successfully converted the penalty kick to close Saturday’s scoring.

 

Goals by

🔸 @LenaBailey_

🔹 @laurendon11

gives 🐊⚽️ a 2-1 exhibition win 🆚 USF!

🔗 https://t.co/pnBFgI026L#Gators close exhibition play next Saturday at Georgia Southern.#GoGators | 🐊⚽️ | #StudentPersonPlayer pic.twitter.com/N6ZfIeeRcX

— Gators Soccer (@GatorsSoccer) August 4, 2024

 
As expected, the Gator coaching saw some good individual performances and some areas the team will work on going forward.

 

Florida Coach Samantha Bohon said:

“We were really clear and basic with some of the fundamental goals, one of which was to get some of our new, young players some minutes and I think they did fantastic. That was very exciting and promising for us. And then just building off of what we worked on in the spring. So to be able to just continue and add on to the spring is really going to help us.

 

“The great thing is our players are fit. This is the most fit they’ve been in my three seasons. So they did their part, they did their homework. Shout out to Katelyn [Kight, UF Strength and Conditioning Coordinator] who helped them prepare in the spring and during Summer B. That’s great because now we can really just get to the soccer and the teaching piece.

 

“We want to continue to build our backlines as they’ve got a lot of experience, but we’re pretty new on the…