If anyone deserves to have a great senior year, it’s Karina Gutsche.
After playing in only one game during her freshman season at UF, Gutsche fought to get playing time in her sophomore year. She succeeded, ultimately appearing in 17 games.
By her junior season, she had earned the starting center back position. She started every match and averaged 85.5 minutes per game, the second most among her Gator teammates.
After three years of climbing the mountain, it was time to savor a sweet senior season.
No. 5 Florida (11-2, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) travels to Columbia, S.C., to face the Gamecocks (9-4-1, 2-3-1 SEC) tonight, and coach Becky Burleigh said she hopes Gutsche will be able to continue doing what the senior has wanted to do all season: contribute on the field.
Instead of leading the back line for the fifth-ranked Gators, Gutsche has seen more time on the bench this season than on the field.
She sprained her MCL during preseason and was forced to miss the first six games before returning in Florida’s game against New Mexico as a substitute.
She continued to play in the team’s next two games as a substitute before getting the start against Missouri.
Finally, she was about to regain her role at center and have the season everyone had expected — the swan song she had earned.
But after playing only 37 minutes, Gutsche suffered a head injury while going for a ball with a Missouri player and was taken off field.
She was back on the bench for two games.
For anyone else, the discouragement would almost be unbearable.
But for someone like Gutsche, who has always embraced challenges, one more wasn’t enough to dampen her positivity.
"It’s definitely been a battle, just getting through the fact that it’s my senior year," Gutsche said. "But it’s also been a fun journey, just because my role has changed, not only as a player but as a person."
Part of that role has been her leadership, and even though she hasn’t been on the field, she’s helped her teammates.
"I think I’ve definitely become more vocal. Just from being able to watch so many games, I can see the things that certain people need to work on," she said. "With my MCL injury, I focused mainly on Claire (Falknor) and Christen (Westphal), just trying to help them."
Gutsche was able to return to the starting lineup against Mississippi State on Oct. 10 - putting in 45 minutes - and she will be looking to see more minutes as the Gators try to finish the last five games of the regular season strong.
"It’s so frustrating because obviously she spent the beginning of the season injured, came back, and as soon as she came back got injured again," Burleigh said, "but hopefully that’s all behind us now and she’ll be in the flow of things, because I think she’s an important part of what we do."
Follow Graham Hack on Twitter @graham_hack24
Karina Gutsche (right) walks on the field prior to Florida's 5-2 exhibition win against Florida International on Aug. 14 at James G. Pressly Stadium.
