Nov. 11, 2006

Box Score

Milwaukee, Wis. - No. 16 Florida scored a goal on both sides of halftime to claim a 2-0 win over Loyola this afternoon in a NCAA Tournament First Round match at Valley Fields in Milwaukee, Wis. The loss brings to a close a record-setting season for the Ramblers, who won a program-record 14 matches and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in program-history.

"Of course, I am disappointed with the result but we did not play very well offensively today," said head coach Frank Mateus. "However, I give Florida a lot of credit for that and it was in the offensive-third of the field where we struggled. I do not think it was a case of us being intimidated or that we were just happy to be here (NCAA Tournament), Florida is seeded where they are for a reason. They are a good team and we did not do what we had to do to win today. We knew it was going to be a battle and I am proud of how we battled for 90 minutes."

Florida's speed was a factor in the Gators earning a couple of early corner kicks, which came to nothing, and they had the first chance of the match as senior keeper Emily Peick made a nice save on Megan Kerns. Florida got on the board in the 22nd minute, as Ameera Abdullah one-timed a nice feed from KeLeigh Hudson past an outstretched Peick to give UF a 1-0 lead. Loyola seemed to settle in after the goal and good work from Mary Dale got the Ramblers their first corner kick just a minute later. The Ramblers were able to slowly made inroads against the Florida defense and they had a penalty appeal denied after the Gators keeper collided with Dale in the penalty area. On the ensuing counterattack, Florida's Ashlee Elliott found the back of the net but the tally was negated for offsides, and the 1-0 held heading into intermission.

Abdullah, again, was the provider as Florida doubled its lead just two minutes into the second half, corralling a loose ball and hitting the back of the net from 20 yards out. Loyola was unfazed and continued to look for openings and came inches away from cutting the deficit in half in the 58th minute. Cynthia Morote-Ariza was able to wiggle free in the center of the park and threaded a nice ball to a streaking Jackie Vera. Vera collected herself but saw her chip of the Florida keeper hit the crossbar and ricochet to safety. As the half wore on, the Ramblers began to pour forward and Katie Heidenreich slipped one under an onrushing Gator keeper, only to see the effort disallowed for offsides.

Loyola loses three seniors from this year's squad. Dale, Peick and Lindsay Faron, who was injured and did not play, helped the Ramblers to 41 wins - the best total ever for a single class at Loyola - and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.