Pamela Begic’s status is still unknown.
After falling to the ground while scoring a goal against Auburn on Sunday, Begic’s health is still being evaluated, coach Becky Burleigh said at Monday’s All-Sports Press Conference.
Burleigh said Begic’s goal was the best she has seen all season.
“People were fired up; I was really fired up,” Burleigh said.
“She pretty much launched herself at that ball. She knew she was going to get hammered when she hit that ball.”
Burleigh said Begic is an example of what the team has to do on the field going forward.
“Even when she’s laying on the ground, players were coming up to her and being like ‘That was just so tough,’” she said.
“That is a pure demonstration of what we were just talking about. If we’re not willing to go after that ball, we’re not going to score a goal there. She was willing to do it, and that takes a lot of courage.”
Ending the weekend with a 3-0 shutout against Auburn was the remedy Florida was looking for after a 2-1 double-overtime loss against South Carolina on Friday.
The Gators have gone “soft” in terms of toughness and aggression since Southeastern Conference play began, senior midfielder Caroline Triglia said Sunday.
“We know that now we have to hold our future,” Triglia said.
“The destiny is in our hands. We can’t lose anymore. We can’t tie. [Sunday’s] win was huge and was necessary.”
The Gators ended SEC regular season play 11-2 in 2012. Florida has two SEC losses already this season, the first coming to Missouri on Sept. 29.
“We know we can come back and win it,” freshman midfielder Liz Slattery said of the SEC regular season title. “This just pushes us forward. We got to go from now. We can’t lose again. We’re going to do it.”
Burleigh said Begic is an example of how the team needs to play aggressively on the field.
She said communication is a given, but the importance lies on toughness and execution.
“Those are two kind of opposite things,” Burleigh said. “We’re asking to play a lot of emotion when we’re playing defense and being tough, but then we’re asking to play with a lot of composure on execution. Flipping that switch is where we’ve got to get to. We’re not quite there yet.”
Sunday was the start of the direction the Gators are trying to go in, and Burleigh said they have talked about their ultimate goal. Now, UF has to turn those words into actions.
“Talk is pretty cheap,” Burleigh said. “It’s about going out there and showing it.”
Follow Michelle Provenzano on Twitter @mmprovenzano.
Pamela Begic lies on the ground during Florida’s 3-0 victory against Auburn on Sunday at James G. Pressly Stadium.
