Biggest goal remains on horizon for Gators soccer team
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 | Soccer, Scott Carter
The UF soccer team was back at practice Monday afternoon, a little more than 24 hours after winning the SEC Tournament with a 1-0 win over South Carolina in Orange Beach, Ala.
The celebration of that victory was clearly over.
“We made a couple of goals this season,” junior McKenzie Barney said. “Two of them we got done: SEC regular-season champs and SEC Tournament champs. We got two out of the way and we have some more to go. This season is far from done.''
The Gators learned Monday that next up is Mercer, their opponent in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. Florida, granted a No. 2 seed, is hosting a regional that also includes Cal and Duke.
In Friday's opening round, the Florida-Mercer match starts at 6 p.m., and the Cal-Duke match at 8:30.
Gators head coach Becky Burleigh likes where her team is entering the tournament. In the past 10 days, the Gators knocked off South Carolina twice to claim the regular-season SEC crown and the SEC Tournament title.
“I think it's always a good thing when you are carrying moment forward into the NCAA Tournament,'' Burleigh said. “Certainly winning the SEC Tournament did that for us. What is exciting about this team at this time of year is that they are still excited to play.
“They are really fresh both mentally and physically.''
