GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The University of Florida soccer team displayed a passing showcase in its season opener after beating the Iowa State Cyclones 5-2 at the James G. Pressly Stadium.

The Gators controlled the ball for the majority of match. Pamela Begič, Meggie Dougherty Howard and Gabby Seiler were the orchestrators in the midfield. They dictated the tempo and gave fluency to the ball movement.

The strong work by the full-backs on transition aided the Gators’ offensive effort tonight. The possession style of play let them provide width, drive the ball and go deep into the rival’s box. Kristen Cardano and Erika Nelson did a great job maintaining a solid defensive line.

The Cyclone goalkeepers split halves, with Lindsey Hendon getting the start and Antonia Reyes playing the second 45 minutes. A goal each by Mayra Pelayo and Melanie Monteagudo provided the Gators’ first half scoring. The Gators scored twice in a two-minute span to open the second half. The first was a long shot by Sarah Troccoli. The was quickly followed by a strike from Dougherty Howard off the pass from Savannah Jordan — her third assist of the game.

The Cyclones scored consecutive goals in a 10-minute span. Koree Willer, the team’s leading scorer last season, had a couple of good steals and driving penetrations that let her score the first goal and assist Klasey Medelberg on the second one.

Defensively, the Gators showed a good positional sense of play. The forwards were the first ones who were in charge of putting the Cyclone’s defenders under pressure when they had the ball.

The Gators effective passing system is enhanced by players who are capable of driving and dribbling inside the rival’s box. Jordan and Monteagudo showed an ability to open spaces for their teammates while dragging rivals to them; staggering way to hold the ball inside the box while being under pressure; good penetration and technical skills to create goal-scoring opportunities.

Jordan finished the Gators’ offensive display after scoring the fifth goal of the game. It was the goal No. 66 in her college career that put her in third place in the all-time scoring list in the program’s history — alongside Danielle Fotopoulos.

The Gators will play their second game of the season against the Florida Atlantic University on Sunday at 1 p.m., in Gainesville.

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