Gators Turn Attention to Stanford and Planning Thanksgiving in California
Monday, November 24, 2014 | Soccer, Scott Carter
Gators coach Becky Burleigh, center, after Sunday's win over Texas Tech. (Photo: Jim Burgess)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Becky Burleigh planned to spend part of her Monday afternoon figuring out Thanksgiving plans.
Not that she minded one turkey leg.
In her 20th season in charge of the Gators women's soccer program, Burleigh can't think of a better place to spend this Thanksgiving than Palo Alto, Calif., home of Stanford University.
If the Gators had lost Sunday in the NCAA Sweet 16, they would have parted ways for Thanksgiving. Instead, they defeated Texas Tech, 3-2, to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in 11 years.
The victory came with a cross-country trip to Stanford, where Florida (17-4-1) will face No. 3-ranked Stanford (20-1-2) on Friday night for a Final Four berth.
“The fact we get to spend the holiday together as a group, I think that's important to us,'' Burleigh said Monday. “I don't think our team minds that dynamic at all. They enjoy each other's company.”
Since losing to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament on penalty kicks, Florida has responded with three consecutive wins in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Mercer, Cal and Texas Tech.
Next stop: Cagan Stadium, where the Cardinal knocked off the Gators 1-0 in September.
Stanford won its 24th consecutive NCAA Tournament game at home on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Washington. The game-winner was scored on a goal by senior Lo'eau LaBonta off a penalty.
LaBonta did the same in Stanford's second-round win over Arkansas. And in the first meeting against Florida, it was LaBonta's score in overtime that defeated Florida.
Needless to say the Gators defense will keep a close eye on LaBonta on Friday night.
For now Burleigh and Co. are searching for ways to extend their season to the College Cup – and working out details on how they will spend Thanksgiving.
Burleigh likes where her team is headed.
“I'm just really thankful to our team for winning so that we get to spend more time together because it's been really fun with this group,'' Burleigh said. “I think the best part about this team so far is that we still have not played our best soccer. For us, that's really exciting because when we can do that, I think we're really hard to beat.”
