An early second half goal by junior Megan Kerns gave the University of Florida soccer team (6-4-2, 2-2 SEC) a 1-0 win over Southeastern Conference co-leader Mississippi (7-3-3, 4-0-1 SEC) Friday evening in front of an Ole Miss Soccer Stadium crowd of 815. The win also gave Florida’s Becky Burleigh her 300^th career victory of her coaching career, as her record now moves to 300-81-25 in her 18^th season of collegiate coaching. She is only the fifth active Division I coach – and the only female – to reach the 300 career wins mark.

Florida had nine shots in the opening half, including four on goal. But on the first real opportunity in the second half for the Gators finally found the back of the net. Deep in the right end of the Rebel box, senior Stacy Bishop did a nice job to create space to serve the ball into the box. KeLeigh Hudson, standing in the six-yard box, look to have a play on the ball but let it continue across the goalmouth where Megan Kerns put it away from six-yards at the far post. It was the

first goal of the season for Kerns.

“Bishop played a great ball and KeLeigh did a nice job by noticing that I was right behind her wide open. She let the ball go and I was able to sneak it past the goalkeeper,” Kerns said. “It was a good team effort all-around.”

“Everybody did their job tonight and everybody did their job well,” she continued. “We committed people forward, we got opportunities – everything was going right for us today.”

Two of the Gators’ better chances in the opening half came from players not usually considered offensive threats. In the 27^th minute, Shana Hudson looked up while bringing the ball down the right side and saw a chance. Her 30-yard shot to the top of the goal was saved over the goal by Megan Vickery for a Gator corner kick. Later in the half, defender Lauren Hyde found space while bringing the ball up in the 31^st minute and was able to drive right into the UM box. She perhaps took one too many touches and her hard eight-yard shot was saved by Vickery.

For the match, Florida recorded nine shots on goal, while the Rebels had none. Freshman Meghan Berlingo, making her second collegiate start Friday, recorded her first shutout.

“I think the score belies the actual play. I think that was one of our most thoroughly dominating performances of the season. The first half was one of the best we’ve played all year as we played most of the half in their end. Their keeper made some great saves – you have to give her credit,” Burleigh said. “We are happy to get the three points (points given in SEC standings for a win) and are ready to move on to Sunday.”

Next up, the Gators head to Starkville, Miss., to meet Mississippi State (5-7-1, 1-3-1 SEC) on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. (ET) in a match that will be televised live on FSN Florida (Cox cable channel 70 in Gainesville/Ocala). The Bulldogs played South Carolina to a scoreless overtime tie on Friday. Sunday’s match can be heard live on WRUF-AM 850.