Megan Kerns didn't just score the winning overtime goal for UF on Friday night against Georgia. She did it with a knot the size of a golf ball on her forehead.
Which she'll remember more, the knot or the goal, was easy for her to decide.
"The goal is more important because it gave this team a win," the senior forward said. "My head will go down, hopefully."
Kerns scored both goals in the No. 16 Gators' 2-1 win against the Bulldogs (2-7, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) Friday night and set a new career high with five goals this season.
Just a little more than four minutes into the first OT, freshman midfielder Lindsay Thompson attacked the box and delivered a shot that forced the Georgia goalkeeper to come out and block.
The ball deflected right to Kerns, who was about 10 yards out in front of the box eyeing a wide-open goal.
"Don't shank it," she said was the only thing she could think.
"I knew that if I could get a solid hit on it, it would probably be able to dip under the crossbar."
It did just that and got UF (6-2-1, 1-0 SEC) off on the right foot in conference play.
"We're pleased with the win," UF coach Becky Burleigh said. "Especially to open the conference, it's a lot different place than we were last year at this time."
Kerns missed a chance at a one-on-one opportunity to seal the win just a few minutes earlier in the overtime.
So letting the second try slip away was not an option.
"I was like, 'Oh, here's my chance to make up for it,'" Kerns said.
The knot on her head came after she took a blow by a Georgia defender as both were going up for a header about midway through the second half.
Kerns stumbled as she stood to her feet then subbed out of the game.
She returned just minutes later, and the rest was history.
"Yes (it hurt)," she said through laughter. "Very bad."
But she'll trade a game-winning goal for the pain any day.
