Players on the UF soccer team will get to enjoy one less practice this week, but they will also be taken out of the comfortable rhythm they are in.
Instead of playing Friday night as they have done all season, the No. 10 Gators will face Arkansas on Thursday.
This week, all Southeastern Conference teams will play one match at home and the other on the road and are given an extra day in between the two - a format implemented last season.
The change means UF will not only have one less practice, but it will also tone down its practice Tuesday, usually the most grueling practice day of the week.
"We will have to back (today's practice) off a little but to make it more of a regular practice, like our regular Wednesday practice," UF coach Becky Burleigh said.
Not having to travel for the game will benefit the Gators, as the Razorbacks will have to make the trip from Fayetteville and may not be fully rested due to the short week and travel schedule.
UF is 12-0-0 all-time against Arkansas, but the last five meetings have all been decided by one goal.
On Sunday, UF plays at LSU, a team that's second in the conference and has not lost a home game yet this season.
KEEPING THE TEAM ROLLING: Burleigh was pleased to see her team clicking on both sides of the field Sunday for the first time in a while.
Not since the 5-1 win against Tennessee on Sept. 28 has the offense and defense performed well in the same game.
Burleigh will emphasize continuing to play smart defense while still attacking aggressively.
"You can't really score goals unless you take risks, and we saw that this weekend," Burleigh said. "It's hard to want to take risks when you're winning a game handily, but the more you do that, the more opportunities you get.
"Our players realize that, and they trust the players behind them that they are going to make good decisions to fill (in) when they go forward."
