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Friday, March 29, 2024
<p>Florida junior goalie Cara Canington (25) is fully healed from last year’s finger injury&nbsp; and said she put in extra work in the offseason in an effort to play more this year.</p>

Florida junior goalie Cara Canington (25) is fully healed from last year’s finger injury  and said she put in extra work in the offseason in an effort to play more this year.

Amanda O’Leary doesn’t mind going with the hot hand.

As No. 3 Florida prepares to take on Jacksonville tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium, the Gators’ coach has something she did not have last season: two viable starting options in net.

As a freshman, Cara Canington started every game for Florida, while fellow freshman Mikey Meagher saw just more than 83 minutes of action. Last season, Meagher took control of the starting job for the entirety of the season after Canington suffered a broken finger on her right hand during the fall.

Canington said that over the course of the last year, her finger healed and it has allowed her to perform at a higher level than prior to the 2011 season.

“Mentally and physically, an injury is always tough to come back from,” Canington said. “This year, being 100 percent now and coming back, it feels good and I’m ready to go.”

It was evident to O’Leary from the start of fall practice that Canington was eager to earn more playing time her junior season.

“She definitely has come out with more of a fire in her that she didn’t want to settle for being that backup,” O’Leary said.

Canington said she focused on improving her hand speed in the offseason by juggling and throwing the ball against a wall repeatedly and catching it.

Meagher has played the first half in both the Gators exhibition against England and regular-season opener, an 11-9 loss to North Carolina, while Canington was in net for the second half of each game.

Both goalkeepers allowed a goal against England, with Meagher saving four shots and Canington recording six saves.

In the UNC game, the Tar Heels scored four goals in the last eight minutes of the first half to take a 7-3 lead, and Meagher was replaced by Canington, who allowed four goals on five shots in the second half.

O’Leary said she was already planning on playing both goalkeepers, but added it is an advantage to have one who can step in when the other is having a sub-par day.

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“It’s a benefit versus a hindrance,” O’Leary said. “To be able to look at whomever isn’t starting and know they can go in and perform eases a lot off of our minds.”

While she has not started a game this season, Canington said which half she plays does not make a difference to her.

“You try to keep the same mental edge,” Canington said. “Whether you come in the first or second half.”

Meagher said her relationship with Canington has made it an easy adjustment to go from getting the bulk of the workload last year to being in a constant battle for playing time.

“We’re friends on and off the field and we’re there to support each other for anything,” Meagher said.

With both junior goalies completely healthy, O’Leary said she has no reservations playing either at any time. Their performance has been equal in practice and the starter will be determined on a game-by-game basis.

“Now we have two great options; two options I feel really comfortable with,” O’Leary said. “We’ll allow them to compete each and every day for that starting position.”

Florida junior goalie Cara Canington (25) is fully healed from last year’s finger injury  and said she put in extra work in the offseason in an effort to play more this year.

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