Might as well get it started, with signing day coming up and the spring season starting. Soccer Buzz lists 7 new players for 08, but I hear there are more coming in . This will be an interesting year for the Gators, as they must replace quite a few players lost to graduation. They still return a solid core and should again be contenders in the SEC, but I'm not sure they'll be expected to be as good as last season. Spring Schedule Feb 16 TBA Gainesville, FL 7:00PM (ET) - March 1 Duke and Wake Forest Durham, NC TBA - March 22 Florida State Tallahassee, Fla. TBA - March 29 Miami and FIU Miami, Fla. TBA - April 5 Old Dominion and UVA Norfolk, Va. TBA Any info on players transferring in or out, injuries, etc?
Just curious ... when will we get info about today's signing class (Florida soccer website)? I see that last year nothing was put on the website until one month after signing day. Also, when will the schedule for '08 most likely come out?
The last couple years they waited several weeks to get official signing info out. Their first trip next year is supposedly out to Portland. Not sure who the other opponent will be during that weekend. One advantage is playing UGA and Tennessee at home; UGA could be the league favorite, Tenn will be good again.
I heard they were getting up to 12 players coming in, but nothing official on that. Haven't heard of any transfers or injuries. This team might even be "under the radar" a little in '08, it will be interesting. Look for goal keeping to be a strength. Young last year, this year they could be under more pressure, but a lot of talent there, IMO (Berlingo, Fraine) (sp's)
UF08_ALT - Interesting that they wait so long on feedback about the new recruits. Take a look at the Texas A&M site. They do a big production all their new recruits. Even have a slide show on each of the players. I noticed that 4 of their recruits were on the same club team with one of your players and that one of your new recruits was also on that team.
They owe a game in Portland to Portland from the year before last. Out here, our understanding is that UCLA is coming in for the first weekend (they owe Portland a game from this year). People have been wondering if Florida would be one of the other teams. There's some speculation about who the other (fourth) team might be, and the team I've heard mention of would make it an unbelievable weekend but doesn't make sense to me, so I'm in a "wait and see" mode. If Florida and UCLA are coming on the same weekend, it sounds like a great event no matter who the fourth team is.
Nole fan here. I'm curious about the spring schedule. I've never been to any of those games. Do they play them intensely? Same length of game, and officials? Do graduating seniors play? I guess I'm asking if it's worth the time and expense to trek up to Ttown; you see, my 10 y.o. daughter and I went to see the elite 8 game with UConn and it was an electric atmosphere. Don't know what to expect from spring schedule.
I'm going to assume they do the same thing at FSU as out here in the Pacific NW. Yes, they play intensely, although they may be a little more careful (as with the late summer non-counting games) since they don't want to get injured. Yes, they are regular games with officials. Graduating seniors can play -- whether they do depends on the players (for example, did they graduate in January and, if so, are they still on campus?) and the coaches. No, the atmosphere won't be as electric as the Elite 8 game with UConn. However, the more people like you who go, the closer to electric it will be. Out here in Portland, in the Spring of 2005, we watched Portland play and beat the Mexico Women's National Team. The atmosphere was as electric as could be and that was when we knew the Pilots were going to win it all in the Fall. If your daughter liked the Elite 8 game, she might like this one although a full game is a lot for a 10-year old (but bring some friends so they can socialize?). It does make a difference if you see more games, because then you get to know the players, which is where real fan loyalty and interest comes in. People like you going to games like this is how we build the game, both for the current players and for future ones like your daughter. Plus, bring your spouse, too.
Was checking out Soccer Buzz's recruit list for Florida and they don't show a kid who is actually enrolled and playing there, Laura Ray (sp?). I assume an early enrollee, freshman. Anybody know anything about her?
She's a forward from St. Augustine. Found an article on her from last year. She is an EE at UF. SoccerFla.com had her commitment listed last year. http://staugustine.com/stories/032207/sports_4483838.shtml I see soccerbuzz also added a commitment from Brooke Chancey, a GK from Middleburg.
Laura Ray is a very good player. She's active in all areas of the field and is very aggressive up front. Her early graduation from HS and spring arrival at UF should certainly help her in the Fall.
Early returns sound good on her in Jan/Feb. IMO, on paper, the next two classes, '08 & '09, seem to have at the very least some decorated kids, National Team's experience, etc.....seemingly more than the last two classes.
Found a couple more recruits -Kayla Bala(09), f from Lakeland George Jenkins HS, which just won the 5A state title. 30 goals this season. -Alicia Nalley(09), f/mf from Tarpon Springs-27 G, 11 A, team lost to George Jenkins in the state semifinals. -Katie Kadera, f/d from Boca Raton, signed for 08. Florida opens their spring exhibition with a match against Mercer tonight at 7.
Anyone make the exhibition tonight? I heard there was a really big crowd for the match, with Florida dominating the match, winning 1-0.
Nice atmosphere at the match. Fans allowed to be on the sideline , good crowd in the stands. The weather helped as it didn't get cool until the 3rd period - they played three 30 minute periods. Defense looked good again - mostly Hyde, Townsend, Kitt and Howard. Ruberry played center mid. The new player, Ray, looked good - fast and good ball skills and had a great shoot the hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced back. In my opinion the team looked more creative than last year and seemed to play a little faster. The players who looked nervous last year playing with all the seniors seemed more confident and relaxed. Mercer didn't pose much of a threat. It seemed to break down for the gators in the attacking third. Plenty of room for improvement but not too bad for the first spring game.
Florida signs 15 http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=13459&html=soccer/news/20080225085600.html&sport=socce
wow, talk about reloading. Didn't know they'd have THAT many sign. I wouldn't put too much stock in this spring's results. It'll be a different team in August, and then again by the end of October. Could be a fun year.....
http://www.gatorzone.com/story.php?id=13467&html=0&sport=socce Becky met with the media as well to talk about the class. Free video of that
Wow, that is a huge class! Guess that past few recruiting classes haven't panned out, feel sorry for the upperclassman, seems as though a lot of them will be riding pine. Not smart to bring in that many players, imho, quite a few may never see the field, i expect transfers in the near future. What ever happened to UF anyway, it seems as though since Abby left they have been disappointing.
Florida beat Duke today 2-1 in the first game. Two 30 minute halves. Jenny Taylor scores both goals for UF.
Lost the second game Saturday 2-0 to W. Forest. Sounds like the game was primarily controlled by WF. Gators will get what they need out of this spring, which is PT for those who do not have much experience. Looking forward to the fall, pretty good core of returners, good group with potential who haven't played much yet, and a big frosh class.
Florida's 09 class is shaping up to be one of the best in the country, as they add another commit. Caroline Miller, a forward from Maryland. Top notch player with youth national team experience and she was an NSCAA All American.
Abdullah, Elliott and Lyle are on the U-23 team that is in England to face the English U-23 team for 2 matches.
Not trying to be a troll or flame thrower....just curious. Why the big numbers in recruiting? And a better question, maybe not to be answered here is what in the world are the 2009's thinking? I will go there and sit? At a certain point, it looks like UF is just stockpiling people rather than filling holes or needs. (I would say the same for most classes over 12 where all 12 have impressive resumes) Do you, as Florida fans, see this big class and more commits coming in 2009 with equally impressive credentials, as a good thing or a red flag?