The University of Florida soccer team (13-6-1, 8-2-1 SEC) saw its season end Friday with a 1-0 double-overtime loss to Illinois (11-6-3, 6-3-1 Big Ten) in NCAA Championship first round action held in front of a James G. Pressly Stadium crowd of 1,026.  The Illini will now face No. 2 seed Florida State (18-3) Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Pressly Stadium. FSU advanced with a 3-0 victory over Florida Atlantic in the first match of the day.

Illinois got the golden goal early in the second overtime period at 101:37. Laura Redmond put in the short shot to the near post after her teammates Christen Karniski and Ella Masar made the passes to get the ball in scoring position.  The loss marks the third time in the last five years that Florida’s season ended in an overtime match.

Florida certainly had its chances in the match, especially in the opening half. In the 20th minute, sophomore Bianca Gibbs took an eight-yard shot that hit the cross bar. Two first half shots by KeLeigh Hudson were saved by Illinois goalkeeper Rachel Frank.

“Rachel (Frank) made two game saving saves in the first half to keep us in the game.  I felt that (Florida) had the momentum in the first half and it was great to go into halftime without giving up a goal,” said Illinois Head Coach Janet Rayfield. “We had a couple of chances (to score) and didn’t get a shot off.

In the 81st minute, UF seniors Rie Sawai and Cherry Pickman nearly connected for a goal. Sawai sent a ball through the Illini box that found Pickman at the near post, but her shot went just wide.

UF Head Coach Becky Burleigh knew the match would be a challenge.

“It was a difficult game.  It was pretty much evenly matched like we expected it would be.  We had a lot of great opportunities.  They were really resilient, and their keeper came up with some big saves, especially in the first half.  We had some good opportunities in the second half, and they defended well,” Burleigh said. “In the overtime, they had a little more momentum.  But then they scored a goal off of the cross ball.  Jen (Gardner) came out really hard, which was a good decision.  But the opposing player showed good composure and finished it off.”

For the match, UF goalkeeper Jen Gardner turned in four saves and UI’s Frank posted six.

Live stats for Sunday’s NCAA Second Round match versus Florida State and Illinois can be viewed on www.GatorZone.com.