Erika Tymrak needed to prove she was not a rusted boot.
The senior midfielder rejoined the lineup against LSU on Friday after missing three games with a sprained left ankle and felt she had something to prove.
In the 75th minute, she shook off the rust.
With the game still scoreless, Tymrak let a ball pass through her legs to sophomore Lauren Silver. Tymrak made a run into the box, received a pass from Silver and poked the yellow ball past the LSU keeper, giving Florida the only goal it would need in an eventual 2-0 victory.
“It kind of gave me a little confidence boost,” Tymrak said.
Tymrak eased her way back onto the field against LSU, racking up 42 minutes off the bench. Against then-No. 5 Texas A&M on Sunday, she played 88 minutes.
Tymrak was again involved in the deciding goal against the Aggies.
In the 39th minute, Tymrak and sophomore Havana Solaun passed the ball back and forth before Tymrak dished it to junior Adriana Leon at the top of the box. Leon drilled the ball over the head of keeper Jordan Day for the game-winning goal.
“I just remember Erika tossing it out in front, and then it was just the perfect ball to finish,” Leon said.
For her efforts, Tymrak was named Offensive Player of the Week by the Southeastern Conference on Monday. Tymrak has won the award twice this season.
“She obviously made an impact on the weekend,” coach Becky Burleigh said. “She’s an integral part of our success.”
After inconsistent performances during the nonconference schedule and the beginning of SEC play, Florida’s offense came alive during Tymrak’s absence, scoring 11 goals in three games. When Tymrak returned, her teammates said the senior had no trouble meshing.
“It was pretty easy for the team and for her,” Leon said.
Tymrak was more critical of her play.
“[The team] knew I was a little hesitant and maybe a little out of shape from taking a week or two off,” she said. “But they’re behind me the whole way, and the coaches completely had my back.”
Tymrak said the Gators had become much better at moving the ball up the field in her absence. Senior Holly King said Tymrak missing three games might actually help the offense in the future.
“When she was out, we had other people scoring,” King said. “When teams see that, they can’t just mark her now.”
Though the Gators offense saw significant improvement while Tymrak was out, the All-American’s return provides a boost.
“Her coming back just gives the team an extra flair going forward,” King said.
Senior midfielder Erika Tymrak dribbles past Tennessee junior Tori Balley (3) in Florida’s 2-1 win on Sept. 21 at James G. Pressly Stadium. Tymrak returned from a left ankle sprain on Friday.
