Erika Tymrak had a successful regular season, but her talents have shined through in the postseason.
The senior midfielder was named the Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Year last week despite missing three games with an ankle injury and not finishing the regular season ranked among the top 10 in the conference in goals or points.
“I got injured, and that’s the first time I’ve ever gotten injured where I was out for a couple games,” she said. “It was really hard on me. … I’m just honored that I could get that award.”
However, as the calendar changed to November and the SEC Tournament began, Tymrak heated up.
In the three games the Gators played en route to the SEC Tournament championship, Tymrak scored three times and picked up three assists.
Her three scores totaled 38 percent of Florida’s offense, and her nine points in the tournament accounted for one-third of the total points the Gators earned.
For Tymrak’s efforts, the league named her the tournament’s most valuable player.
“She was really remarkable this weekend,” coach Becky Burleigh said. “It wasn’t like she was doing all these spectacular individual things. She was just terrific at spreading the ball out, making great decisions. … It was completely deserved when she was the MVP.”
Tymrak was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week during the season, and on Monday she was picked by Top Drawer Soccer for its National Team of the Week.
Gators banged up: First-team All-SEC midfielder Jo Dragotta left Sunday’s match with a head injury after Auburn midfielder Ana Cate elbowed her on a jump ball.
Dragotta was on the ground for several minutes while trainers stabilized her head with a neck brace. She eventually walked off the field under her own power.
“She had a pretty big headache,” Burleigh said. “They did a CT scan and everything was normal.”
Burleigh said the team had not ruled out a concussion, and that Dragotta was scheduled to undergo more evaluations on Monday. Burleigh said junior Caroline Triglia will likely start if Dragotta is not available.
Sophomore defender Annie Bobbitt did not play during the SEC Tournament after leaving the Gators’ Oct. 19 match against Alabama with a knee sprain.
Burleigh said before the tournament that Bobbitt would likely play but said on Monday that although Bobbitt was physically ready, the team never needed to use her. Sophomore Karina Gutsche started in Bobbitt’s place.
“Different people have stepped up at different times,” Burleigh said. “We lose Kat (Williamson), our All-American, and then we replace her with Annie Bobbitt, who’s terrific. And then she gets injured, and now Karina’s playing, and she’s been awesome. She was just a monster back there this weekend.”
NCAA Tournament brackets released: On Monday afternoon, the NCAA Tournament bracket was released.
Florida was seeded No. 2 in its bracket and matched up with Florida Gulf Coast, which is 14-3-3 this season. The Gators will have home-field advantage through the first three rounds of the tournament, if they advance.
If Florida defeats FGCU, it will play either UCF or Miami in the second round. Miami defeated Florida 4-1 to begin this season, and Knights beat the Gators 3-2 in the NCAA Tournament last year. Although that loss ended Florida’s season, Burleigh doesn’t have revenge on her mind.
“I’m not even thinking about that game,” she said.
Junior midfielder Caroline Triglia pushes the ball in Florida’s 4-0 win against Arkansas on Sept. 30 at James G. Pressly Stadium.
