Following Friday night's 1-0 win against LSU and Sunday's 4-1 thrashing of Georgia in the Southeastern Conference title game, the UF soccer team achieved its goal.
For the eighth time in 12 years, the Gators (16-4-2, 9-2 SEC) are SEC Tournament champions, but this one was different from the others.
After starting the conference schedule with two losses, the Gators changed their approach. Long considered one of the SEC's premier teams, the squad took up a new mantra, "We're now the hunters, not the hunted." They haven't lost since.
The Gators are riding high on a 12-game winning streak with sights set on claiming the season's ultimate goal: the national title.
UF will begin its NCAA Tournament quest in Gainesville as a No. 3 seed Friday against Miami.
"We're playing the best soccer we've ever seen at the University of Florida in terms of the way we play and the teamwork both offensively and defensively," UF coach Becky Burleigh said. "I think that's exciting because of the way we're playing and because it helps develop players, too.
"You have to make good decisions, and you have to be a good soccer player."
Sunday's victory wasn't only about the SEC title. It was also an opportunity for the Gators to avenge their 2-1 loss to the Bulldogs earlier this season.
"It is definitely a great feeling to come back and play a team that beat us earlier in the season, and for it to be in the championship makes it special," senior forward KeLeigh Hudson said.
Ameera Abdullah scored the match's first goal in the ninth minute. Megan Kerns found the forward streaking into the box and Abdullah found the back of the net.
Bishop scored the second goal of the match in the 56th minute. The senior finished the tournament with three goals and rung up four assists en route to being named tournament MVP.
"It is a nice honor, but it was certainly a team effort out there today and in this tournament," Bishop said. "It was a great team effort. I can't credit the defense enough for what they have done over the past weeks. We have only given up two goals in the past 12 games, which is unbelievable."
Georgia had just seven shot attempts, and its lone score came from forward Caroline Simpson on a penalty kick. The goal ended UF's six-match shutout streak and snapped a program record of 625 minutes without allowing a score.
"Our team really enjoys the idea of being able to possess the ball 90 percent of the game," Burleigh said. "They're a real competitive bunch, not just in terms of the final outcome but the little things inside of the game."
UF's eight seniors are focused on extending their season and are six victories away from their storybook ending. For now, though, they can celebrate what they have already accomplished.
"To win the tournament championship is a great feeling," said Hudson, "and being a senior, it is something that you always want to do - go out on top."
