Hellstrom Scores But Huskies Fall 2-1 To #7 Florida

Friday, August 17

Gainesville, FL

4:00 PM

University of Washington

0-1-0

Florida

1-0-0

Washington

Florida

August 17, 2018 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

GAINESVILLE, FL – The young Dawgs of Washington jumped to a 1-0 lead Friday night but fell 2-1 to the #7 Florida Gators in the regular season opener. Ruby Hellstrom scored her first career goal in the game less than ten minutes after entering the match, with Lisa Jensen earning an assist. Siena Ruelas made seven saves for the Huskies in her first career start.

"We knew that Florida was going to come at us," said head coach Lesle Gallimore. "Some of our young kids really got a feel for what top-level college soccer is like, so it's a great place to start and build from. We created chances in and around the box and looked dangerous at times."

Hellstrom's goal was Washington's only in the game. The freshman credited it to "being in the right place at the right time and just reading the game," saying that "it was unreal and so cool to get the opportunity to score my first goal in my very first game."

35' | Put it on the scoreboard! Huskies lead thanks to Hellstrom! #GoHuskies pic.twitter.com/kUArIdTgTW
— Washington Women's Soccer (@UW_WSoccer) August 17, 2018

		SCORING
34:52 \| After Pascale Dumesnil sent in a corner, Jensen managed to gather the ball off an attempted clearance. The junior knocked the ball toward goal, where Hellstrom pushed it in for the 1-0 lead. 53:01 \| The Huskies defended well in the box for an extended period but couldn't get possession, with Florida firing from high on the right wing to tie the game. 76:30 \| A miscommunication and bad deflection in front of goal left Florida with an open net, giving the Gators a 2-1 lead.

		NOTES
Four Huskies made their collegiate debuts as Hellstrom, Ruelas, Makena Carr, and Summer Yates all saw action. Isabella Castro and Kennedy Smith saw their first action since 2016. Hellstrom (4) and Sianna Siemonsma (2) each had multiple shots, with Siemonsma nearly scoring on two partial breakaways in the 58^th minute. Ruelas' seven saves were the most by a Husky goalkeeper in their first career appearance since Hope Solo in 1999.

		UP NEXT
Washington returns to Seattle for its home opener next week, taking on Cal State Fullerton on Friday, August 24 at 5:00 pm. Make sure to follow Husky women's soccer on Twitter with the username @UW_WSoccer and on Instagram at uw_wsoccer.