Gators hope to get past Round of 16 after two years of elimination
By CALLOVI< | Nov. 20, 2008No one on the UF soccer team has forgotten how the last two seasons ended - not even this year's 16 freshmen.
No one on the UF soccer team has forgotten how the last two seasons ended - not even this year's 16 freshmen.
With time winding down, the Gators made one final attempt to take a lead into the half.
As the ball hit the back of the net for a California goal, Jazmyne Avant immediately covered her face to hide from her teammates.
The UF soccer team would have had a better chance at continuing in the Southeastern Conference Tournament had UF football coach Urban Meyer given it his "Plan to Win."
Wednesday's match ended up being a nail biter for the Gators, but it was just a few plays away from being an easy win for them.
Going to overtime never crossed Becky Burleigh's mind.
For Jazmyne Avant, the Southeastern Conference Tournament isn't just a way to get an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament. It's also a way to get redemption for poor performances in previous matches.
The only certainty for the No. 7 Gators in the postseason is that they will play two games.
An undefeated conference season cements the Gators in the Southeastern Conference record book.
It took just three games for Liz Ruberry to lose her starting job.
Having already secured the Southeastern Conference regular-season title and top seed in the SEC Tournament, the Gators only have a perfect conference record and a high national seeding to play for.
The UF soccer team has developed a habit coach Becky Burleigh would like to break.
For the first 66 minutes of the match, it appeared UF would have its fourth 1-0 game in a row with Arkansas.
Last year, the Gators needed all 11 Southeastern Conference games to win the regular-season title. This season they will have three chances to clinch at least a share of the top spot, starting tonight with a match against Arkansas.
Players on the UF soccer team will get to enjoy one less practice this week, but they will also be taken out of the comfortable rhythm they are in.
Megan Kerns recorded a hat trick, but it was Angela Napolitano's lone goal that broke the game open for the Gators.
No matter what the board with the Southeastern Conference standings in the UF locker room implies, every game is going to be a challenge.
To opposing teams' defenses, it sometimes appears as if the entire UF soccer team is attacking them.
While the Gators have played their way to a 6-0 start in Southeastern Conference play, the toughest roads may still be ahead of them.
Although just three of the 30 players on the UF soccer team are seniors, they have had a huge impact all season.