Tough Luck 2-1 Loss For Bulldogs In Overtime

GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- In facing their sixth straight ranked opponent, the Bulldogs got their most spirited effort of the season, but they couldn’t get past the host Florida Gators Friday night in a 2-1 overtime loss.

The first half was back and forth most of the way with each team not having many serious scoring opportunities. No. 16 Florida had the best chance to get on the board; midfielder Ameera Abdullah one-touched a cross from six-yards out, but goalkeeper Michelle Betos dove right into the shot for an impressive point-blank save.

Through the first half, Florida had nine shots with four them needing to be saved by Betos. Georgia (2-7-0, 0-1 SEC) was able to put a few good combinations together to result in four shots, but none of them were on net.

The second half was more fast-paced than the first with each team getting one goal and extra time was needed to decide the winner.

The Gators struck first in the 62nd minute. In transition, Gator defender Jazmyne Avant dribbled nearly 40 yards into the Bulldog half of the field, then crossed a ball perfectly and hit forward Megan Kerns, who flicked a header past Betos into the left side of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Georgia wouldn’t let the lead last long. Just five minutes later, on a free kick from 25 yards out, midfielder Jamie Pollock rifled a shot over the Florida wall and the ball kicked into the net off the inside of the left post to even the score.

The rest of the half was fast paced and physical with 12 total fouls being called. Each team had chances to get the game-winner in regulation, but the game went to overtime.

Florida would ultimately get the deciding goal in the 95th minute. Kerns played a ball through the Georgia defense toward the left side of the net. Betos, forced to leave her net, blocked Lindsay Thompson’s initial shot, but the rebound bounded to the middle of the field where Kerns ran onto it and flicked it into the net from 15 yards out to seal the game for the Gators (6-2-1, 1-0).

“We had a wonderful week of preparation and our young ladies competed extremely hard tonight. It was a great game and I thought both teams had their moments of brilliance,” head coach Patrick Baker said. “It was going to take something special to win this game and full marks to Kerms for hitting a first class game-winner. We had some chances ourselves, especially at the end of regulation and just couldn’t convert.”

It might not have been the victory that the Bulldogs hoped for, but the overall effort up and down the lineup ia something Baker hopes can carry over as the team heads to Columbia to play South Carolina Sunday.

“I am gutted for our players that we don’t have more results thus far, but they continue to work hard, prepare with diligence and compete at a very high level,” Baker said. “Playing the likes of BYU, Utah, Virginia, Stanford, Southern Cal, UNC and Duke in the non-conference has prepared us for conference play and has made us better in a number of ways. Our best soccer is yet to come though. Good things are on the horizon for our team and program.”

Up next, the Bulldogs travel to Columbia, S.C., where they hope to end their losing streak when they face the South Carolina Gamecocks at 1 p.m. Sunday.

University of Georgia Athletics

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