Georgia Beats Florida in Last Minute Thriller

Thursday, October 31

Athens, Ga.

7:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

7-6-4, 3-3-2

Florida

10-6-1, 6-2-1

Florida

Georgia

Photo by: Tony Walsh

October 31, 2019 | Soccer

Box Score

ATHENS, Ga. --- For only the third time in program history, the University of Georgia soccer team defeated the Florida Gators with a thrilling 1-0 finish in the final minutes of the game on a cold Halloween night at the Turner Soccer Complex.

The Bulldogs (8-6-4, 4-3-3 SEC) snapped a 12-game losing streak with the first win over the Gators (10-7-1, 6-3-1 SEC) since 2008 and punched its ticket to the 2019 Southeastern Conference Tournament in Orange Beach, Alabama.

With 90 seconds left in the game, freshman Haley Sorrell booted the ball to the back right corner of the net off an assist from sophomore Abby Boyan for the game-winner.

"It's a signature win for us," head coach Billy Lesesne said. "I've said it all season that this is a group of fighters. I think they showed that again tonight. They just never give up and never quit. They have a great camaraderie with each other, and I think it shows on the field. They can never be counted out of any game because they just battle and they fight, and that's what I was so proud of tonight. The effort to succeed and desire to win has been very evident this year."

Florida controlled the game for much of the first half, but the Bulldogs were able to hold steady as the wind picked up.

At the 68-minute mark, sophomore Dani Murguia had a promising look that rolled wide of the net. In the ensuring possession for Florida, the Gators hammered a shot cause sophomore goalkeeper and SEC Defensive Player of the Week Emory Wegener to make a diving save and punch the ball out of the net.

With four minutes left in the game, Florida had two back-to-back corner kicks, but the Bulldog defense held steady to keep the scoreboard clean.

Both goalkeepers made five saves in the close match, and the Gators outshot the Bulldogs 11-8.

"This was probably one of the most rewarding moments since our team has worked so hard this year," Sorrell said. "I think we deserved that win. I could not have done this without my team. It was a team effort."

The top ten teams with the highest conference point total will participate in the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Alabama. Georgia has now earned 15 conference points and will learn its seeding for the conference tournament once all games conclude. The tournament will run from Sunday, November 3 through Sunday, November 10 with games being played in a Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday- Sunday format.

HOW TO FOLLOW GEORGIA SOCCER: For complete information on Georgia soccer, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGASoccer on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.