[SEC: Women] No. 17 Florida moved into a share of the Eastern Division lead in the SEC when it beat No. 14 Kentucky, 3-0, and No. 13 South Carolina lost toMissouri, 2-0. No. 24 Texas A&M moved to the top of the Eastern Division standings when it beat Alabama, 3-0, and Mississippi handed LSU its first conference loss of the season with a 1-0decision.
Sophomore Lauren Smith scored in each half to lead the Gators past Kentucky. Liz Slatteryadded the third goal late in the first half.
“I think it was one of our more complete games of the season so far,” said Florida coach Becky Burleigh. “I think that our tactics ofour outside backs getting forward really put a damper on their offense and we sort of got to dictate what we wanted them to do at that point.”
Burleigh liked the Gators’ ballmovement that led to the goals.
“On couple of those goals, the ball switched from one side of the field to the other and that’s what created the opening for her to have thespace in the middle,” she said. “All three goals were great strikes. We hit the post, what three times? Some great, great opportunities.”
— AlyssaDiggs hit the game-winner for Mizzou in the 79th minute with a curling shot inside the right post. It was only the second time this season that the Gamecocks have allowed more than one goal ina game.
Missouri had taken the lead in the 27th minute when goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo punched TaylorGrant‘s corner kick, but ball came off the wrong spot on her glove and went in the goal.
Midway through the second half, South Carolina when DaijaGriffin put a move on her defender and found fellow freshman Paige Bendell for the equalizer.
SEC, EasternDivision
TEAM (W-L-T)
South Carolina (5-2-0)
Florida (5-2-0)
Kentucky (4-2-0)
Georgia (3-3-1)
Missouri (3-3-1)
Tennessee (2-2-2)
Vanderbilt (0-6-1)
Shea Groom scored twice and BiancaBrinson finished the scoring as Texas A&M extended its win streak to six matches with the victory at the Alabama Soccer Complex.
Texas A&M owned a 29-5 edge in shots.
“Throughout the game,” said A&M coach G Guerrieri, “you could see how this team continues to mature and get better. We have a lot of smartgirls on this team. It’s one thing to know what you’d like to do, but it’s another thing to be able to do it on the road. I was real pleased with the way we were able to attack toopen up Alabama and to put ourselves in a good position many times.”
— Rafaelle Souza notched her conference-leading to lift Ole Miss pastLSU in Baton Rouge.
“It was an awesome result for our girls tonight,” said Ole Miss head coach Matthew Mott. “They fought likecrazy for 90 minutes tonight and really gutted out a big win. Both teams hit the post a couple of times and our players really worked hard for this win. LSU is a fantastic team and there is a reasonthey were leading the league. We’re very excited to come down here and get a win.”
SEC, Western Division
TEAM (W-L-T)
Texas A&M (6-1-0)
LSU (5-1-1)
Mississippi (5-2-0)
Arkansas (3-4-0)
Alabama (3-4-0)
Auburn (0-5-2)
Mississippi State (0-7-0)