The Gators had a talented forward receiving too few minutes and a lack of depth on defense.
So Becky Burleigh solved both problems with one decision: moving freshman Tessa Andujar to outside back.
Prior to the No.13 Gators’ game against Arkansas last Thursday, the first-year player had only logged 432 minutes at both midfield and forward in the first 15 games of the season (28.8 minutes per match).
Conversely, Florida’s starting outside backs, sophomore Maggie Rodgers and senior Jazmyne Avant, had rarely left the field since Southeastern Conference play began. Avant saw at least 90 minutes of action five times, and Rodgers was on the pitch for the entirety of three games.
In UF’s system, the outside backs are asked to make runs deep into the attacking third, but also to get back to the defensive third when possession changes. They usually run 6 to 8 miles per game.
“Having some extra depth in that position is certainly a plus for us,” Burleigh said.
To increase her options along the back line, Burleigh made the decision to transition Andujar to outside back, where she started in place of Rodgers in the Gators’ 2-1 win against Arkansas and Sunday’s 1-0 loss to LSU.
Andujar’s ball-attacking skills made her a good candidate to make the transition.
“She’s very tenacious,” Burleigh said. “Even when she plays offense she’s tenaciously after the ball all the time.”
Rodgers made a similar transition from offense to outside back in the offseason, but Andujar’s switch has given Burleigh the option of also playing Rodgers at less taxing positions such as midfield, where she saw time on Sunday in addition to playing outside back.
“Maggie is a pretty versatile player,” Burleigh said. “She played a little bit in the middle of the defense as well, and she is still playing out wide.”
The defense responded well to the lineup shuffle, only allowing two shots on goal in each of the games against Arkansas and LSU.
“Tessa’s transition there has given us a little bit of an attacking mentality in that position just as Maggie does,” Burleigh said. “The two of them will continue to get better.”
