When the Lady Vol soccer team takes to the field in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, the opponent will look very familiar.

Thanks in part to an NCAA selection committee that placed all five SEC teams on the same side of the tournament bracket, Tennessee and Florida face each other for the third time of the season.

The 1:30 p.m. match is for a chance to move on to the Elite Eight of NCAA tournament play.

The No. 7 Lady Vols look to continue the success they’ve found against Florida (18-3-2) over the last three seasons. Since 2001, Tennessee has emerged victorious in four of its last five matchups against the Gators, who have dominated SEC play since its inception.

In the two team’s first meeting this season,Tennessee relied on a defensive effort on Oct. 10 to shutout UF, 2-0.

The second contest was far more dramatic.

In SEC tournament champion game, Tennessee kept the game tied through regulation and two overtime periods before going to a penalty kick shootout.

UT freshman forward Jenny Jeffers ended the game connecting on a penalty kick in sudden death overtime.

Now, the prospect of playing Florida for a third time this season has UT head coach Angela Kelly looking forward to the challenge.

“We’re excited about playing Florida again,” Kelly said. “Anytime you are in the Sweet 16, you have to be ready for a tough game. Florida has been in the top 10 or top 5 all year.”

Tennessee finds itself in the middle of another scoring drought. Since a 4-2 win at Kentucky, the Lady Volunteers have managed more than a single goal in only one contest – a second round 2-0 win over Ole Miss in the SEC tournament.

The lack of goals has Tennessee relying more on its defense to keep moving forward. So far, goalkeeper Vanessa Phillips-Bosshart and the Lady Vol defenders have seen success with the situation, accumulating a 12-game undefeated streak.

In that stretch, Phillips-Bosshart has picked up five shutouts in her last six contests as the Lady Vols have improved to 17-4-2 overall. Of course, the defense has had something to do with that.

Among the defenders that have aided Phillips-Bosshart on the back line is junior defender Keeley Dowling. Dowling’s efforts on the season have earned her plenty of praise lately, including yesterday’s inclusion as a Soccer Buzz finalist for National Player of the Year.

And based on recent history between the two schools, Saturday’s Sweet 16 contest could turn into a defensive battle. Shutout or shootout, though, Kelly said her team is expecting another classic matchup with its biggest rival.

“Anytime we play Florida, it’s a battle,” Kelly said. “I look for a challenge – one that hopefully we are up for.”