Freshman Megan Kerns took advantage of a free kick awarded in the final nine minutes of the match to give the No. 19 University of Florida soccer team (12-4-1, 7-2-1 SEC) a 1-0 victory over Arkansas (6-11, 3-7 SEC) Sunday afternoon in front of a Lady ‘Back Soccer Complex crowd of 687.

The free kick was awarded at 81:34 after KeLeigh Hudson was fouled just a couple of steps above the box. Hudson and Kerns had been practicing these shots in team training sessions and it was decided that Kerns would take the shot on Sunday. Kerns’ shot had no spin and went into the far corner for her fourth goal of the season. In attendance at Sunday’s match were her parents, Ken and Karri Kerns, who made the drive to Fayetteville from Ames, Iowa. This was Kerns’ second consecutive match with a goal, as she also turned in UF’s first goal in Friday’s 2-1 win over LSU.

“They let me have my chance at it (the shot),” Kerns said. “The far post was open so that is where I aimed.”

UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh was happy to get the win against the Lady ‘Razorbacks. The last three matches between the two teams have been decided by a single goal.

“This was pretty much what we expected. The last two games with them have been 2-1 and this one was 1-0,” Burleigh said. “They are tough to play at home and we are happy to get out of here with a win. We played well enough to win.”

The match was played in mid-50 temperatures with wind gusts up to 14 miles per hour.

“It (the wind) was very difficult to play against. It changed the direction of the ball constantly and it made the kicks float,” Kerns said. “It was hard to play in. It’s been awhile since we’ve played in a wind like that.”

Florida had some excellent looks at the goal in the opening half. In the first five minutes, KeLeigh Hudson centered the ball from the end line. Melanie Booth one-touched her shot to the far post, but UA goalkeeper Carrie Dillsaver made the save. Later in the half, Ananda Erickson headed a Jessica Young corner kick. The ball was cleared off the line UA defender Devon Burger. In the final five minutes of the half, Bianca Gibbs took a shot just above the six-yard box, but Dillsaver again made the stop.

The No. 19 Gators return home to play host to South Carolina on Friday, Oct. 28 for the regular-season finale. Match time is set for 7 p.m. (ET) at the James G. Pressly Stadium and admission is free. Friday’s match is Senior Day and the Gators seven-member senior class will be honored. FSN will broadcast the match live and the match can also be heard live on WRUF AM 850 and www.GatorZone.com.