When the Gators take the field this weekend, they will have to deal with more than just a pair of Southeastern Conference rivals.
They’ll have their own emotions to cope with as well.
Florida (4-3-1, 1-1 SEC) will square off against No. 23 Tennessee on Friday and Georgia on Sunday.
“It’s hard to not let your emotions get the best of you,” senior midfielder Erika Tymrak said. “You have to let your technique override any emotions.”
Junior defender Maggie Rodgers said the team tries to look at the entire SEC as their rivals, not just Tennessee (6-1-2, 1-0-1 SEC) and Georgia (5-3-1, 1-0-1 SEC).
“Playing Auburn, they took the SEC tournament title from us last year, and we just come in for the huddle we’re just like, ‘This is revenge,’” Rodgers said. “All SEC teams are our rivals. We treat every team like that.”
Florida avenged last season’s loss and defeated Auburn 2-1 on Sunday thanks to an overtime goal from junior forward Adriana Leon.
Florida has already played one game against a traditional rival – a 1-0 loss to No. 1 Florida State on Aug. 31.
In that match, the Gators missed several opportunities to score, getting shut out despite taking 12 shots.
Tennessee comes into Friday’s match with Florida after a tiring weekend. The Volunteers played in two overtime matches last weekend, winning the first in the 97th minute and playing to a two-overtime draw in the second.
Florida played 99 minutes against Auburn on Sunday, and have a 2-0-1 record in overtime matches this season.
Since 2001, eight of the 16 games between Florida and Tennessee have gone to overtime, the last being a 1-0 double-overtime UF victory in 2009.
The Gators will play in front of more than just the usual crowd this weekend.
More than 20 Florida soccer alumni, including three-time All-American Erin Baxter McCorkle, will be in the stands for Gator Soccer Alumni Weekend.
“It’s definitely cool that alumni want to come back,” freshman defender Christen Westphal said. “That says a lot about the program.”
However, rivalries and alumni are not on coach Becky Burleigh’s mind.
“The big thing is we need to get six points out of this weekend,” she said.
Erika Tymrak (17) battles with Crystal McNamara (15) of Florida International University during Florida's 3-0 win on Sept. 2 at James G. Pressly Stadium. Tymrak is one of three Florida seniors to earn All-Southeastern Conference first team. She also won SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
