Lena Bailey scored at 88:27, lifting the Florida Gators to a 1-0 victory over No. 5 Alabama on Thursday, Oct. 8, at Donald R. Dizney Stadium in Gainesville. Bailey chased down a pass from Lael Hill before sending a right-footed shot from the top of the penalty area into the far corner. The goal came with 93 seconds remaining.
Florida improved to 6-4-3 overall and 2-2-2 in Southeastern Conference play. Alabama fell to 12-2-0 overall and 5-1-0 in SEC play after suffering its first conference loss of the season. The victory gave Florida its second win over a top-five opponent this season.
Bailey delivers after late chances
Florida and Alabama traded stretches of control before the Gators produced the decisive sequence late in the match. Tatum Borman’s shot was deflected out for a corner kick in the 87th minute, and Adia Symmonds sent an attempt wide in the 88th minute. Hill then played the ball into space in Alabama’s half for Bailey.
Bailey carried the ball forward and finished from the top of the penalty area in the 89th minute. It was her third goal of the season and her first since she scored twice against Jacksonville on Aug. 27. Hill received credit for the assist, while Bailey finished with four shots and one shot on goal.
Florida earns second top-five victory
Florida outshot Alabama 16-11. Florida goalkeeper Jayden Emmanuel made three saves, while Alabama goalkeeper Madi Munguia made two saves. The Gators held Alabama scoreless for the shutout.
Florida is the nation’s only team with two wins over top-five opponents this season, according to the source. The Gators also defeated Florida State, then tied for No. 3, 3-1 on Aug. 23. Florida coach Nick Zimmerman said the result fulfilled the team’s halftime challenge.
“We felt like we’ve been playing really good fútbol, and we felt like the last performances have been really, really good. So just to see the players get the reward — they earned it. They took the game tonight,” Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman also described the team’s response after Alabama applied pressure late in the match.
“In the past, we challenged them to take it. At half, we made it abundantly clear: We’re going to see if we’re ready to take that game. With a minute thirty, in that moment where we were under it for a little bit, to go back and take that game after the chance we had just missed — that’s exceptional,” Zimmerman said.
Florida begins road trip against ranked opponents
Florida will begin a two-match road trip against ranked SEC opponents Thursday, Oct. 15, at No. 3 Vanderbilt. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.
The Gators will then visit No. 23 Arkansas on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 2:30 p.m. ET at Razorback Field. Florida leads the all-time series against Alabama 22-3-3, including an 11-0-1 record at home.
FSB Take
Bailey’s late finish gave the Florida Gators a 1-0 home victory over No. 5 Alabama and secured the program’s second top-five win of the season. Florida also received three saves from Emmanuel and outshot Alabama 16-11.
The result moved Florida to 2-2-2 in SEC play ahead of road matches at Vanderbilt and Arkansas. The Gators will take the 1-0 victory and their second top-five win into that two-match trip.
Source: Original report