McKenzie Barney has scored many goals in her career at Florida, but after suffering season-ending facial fractures in 2011, one goal overshadowed the rest: staying healthy.
“That was kind of one of my biggest goals” she said. “Making sure that I have enough time to get treatment, get rest, stay hydrated … so I can be at my best for this team.”
Barney has achieved that goal for most of this season. She missed the Gators’ 3-1 victory against Ole Miss with a knee injury but has played in the rest of Florida’s 16 games.
Being healthy isn’t enough for the redshirt senior. As a forward, she needs to score.
“That’s kind of my job,” she said.
For the past four seasons, Barney has done her job.
So far in 2012, she is tied with Havana Solaun and Jo Dragotta for the UF lead in goals with five.
Despite being one of the team leaders in scoring, Barney’s season still falls short of matching her previous campaigns. In 2009, her first year of action with the team after suffering an ACL tear her freshman year, she scored eight goals. In 2010, she led the Southeastern Conference champions with 14 goals.
In total, Barney has scored 31 goals, which is good for seventh in Florida’s record books, behind players like FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion Danielle Fotopoulos and Olympic gold medal winner Abby Wambach.
“It is an absolute honor to be on that list with them,” Barney said.
As good as Barney has been on the field, coach Becky Burleigh said she thinks Barney’s biggest impact has been off the field.
“Her legacy is going to be a lot more than just goals scored,” Burleigh said. “She’s been the epitome of work ethic. She’s been a terrific leader. She always gets this team fired up when we need it to be. … Her ability to recognize what the team needs and provide that is really important.”
Senior Erika Tymrak has played with Barney in the attacking third for the past four years, and the two have combined for 11 goals.
“[Barney] is probably one of the easiest players to play with because she affects the play, no matter what she does,” Tymrak said. “She’ll make a run knowing she’s not going to get the ball just to create space for the person dribbling.”
Said Barney: “I love playing with Erika.”
Barney was a key player on the 2010 SEC championship team, scoring two goals in the conference tournament. With only three games remaining before this year’s tournament and the Gators on a nine-game winning streak, Barney is looking to get hot at the right time.
Although Barney already has an SEC title under her belt, the senior still has one thing she is looking to accomplish during the final stretch of her college career: an NCAA championship.
“It’s the goal,” she said.
Forward McKenzie Barney (4) battles for the ball against Mississippi State’s Shannen Jainudeen (17) in Florida’s 4-1 win on Sunday at James G. Pressly Stadium. Barney has scored five goals this season.
