Some teams are made up of more than just talented athletes from around the country and the world.
Some teams spend more time on the growth of their players and teamwork than on worrying about winning or losing.
Some teams are more than a team; they’re a family.
The Florida women’s soccer team embodied each of those traits this season and, for those reasons, its year was a success.
The Gators defined what it meant to be a team.
Florida’s season came to an end on Friday night in Palo Alto, California, when it lost in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament in penalty kicks to Stanford.
It was the first time the Gators made it to the Elite Eight since 2003.
Florida finished the season with a 17-4-2 record, going 9-2 in Southeastern Conference play.
Some notable wins were on the road against Florida State — which is now in the Final Four — and on the road against Texas A&M, who won the SEC Championship and is also now in the Final Four.
Coach Becky Burleigh said this year’s team was something special.
They put in the work, did all the right things and genuinely enjoyed playing soccer together.
"I think the legacy that this team leaves is what it looks like to really love and care for each other on the field and how that affects your performance," Burleigh said.
"That takes a lot of trust. It takes a lot of sacrifice to be able to put your needs aside for the team, and this team really showed a lot of heart and fight."
What makes a team even better is when that heart and fight is mixed with talent and skill.
Sophomore Savannah Jordan led the Gators this year in goals with 19, just three shy of her 22 goals as a breakout freshman.
Jordan finished the year atop the SEC in shots taken, shots per game, points, points per game, goals and goals per game.
She also added eight assists on the year, a career high.
Senior Tessa Andujar also showed huge improvement this season at the defender position.
Andujar was the point guard of the team, finishing the year with 10 assists, a team-high and tied for third best in the SEC.
She also scored three goals and 16 total points in her final season.
Those are all career highs for Andujar.
Florida had nine seniors this year who, in their time with the Gators, all contributed greatly to the success of the team.
Andujar, Annie Bobbitt, Taylor Burke, Jillian Graff, Karina Gutsche, Lauren Silver, Havana Solaun, Annie Speese and redshirt junior Lindsey Cooper have all played their final games for Florida.
Burleigh said the leadership the seniors displayed this year played a huge role in the team’s success and that they leave Florida by setting a new standard for what the Florida soccer program should strive for.
"I just wanted (the team) to understand that it was one of the most fulfilling years I had as a coach," Burleigh said.
Burleigh added that the players who return next year and even the seniors who won’t be back will continue to contribute to the future Gator teams, so she doesn’t see this as an end.
"I think I’m just not gonna look at it as the end," Burleigh said.
"I think I’m just gonna look at it as the beginning."
Follow Alex Maminakis on Twitter @AlexMaminakis
Savannah Jordan dribbles the ball during Florida's 3-2 win against Texas Tech.
