UF coach Becky Burleigh might want to thank Betsy Elliott for her team's 2-1 win against No. 25 Kansas on Sunday.
Both of the No. 16 Gators (5-2-1) goals came from junior Ashlee Elliott, who got a little pregame advice from her mom, Betsy. Before the match, Ashlee looked down at her phone to see a text message from her mom, telling her to take a shot.
Her first score was a header off a Tahnai Annis cross to even the match in the 65th minute.
Then, with just under 8 minutes left, Elliot ripped a shot well outside the 18-yard box that went right over Jayhawks goalkeeper Julie Hanley's head and into the back of the net.
"The second goal was just (a) take a chance (type of shot)," she said. "I don't know what was going on through my mind.
"I set it up on my left foot not knowing if I was going to shoot it or pass it, and I just put my head down and took a shot."
It was a good thing UF only needed the two scores from Elliott, because the Gators did not manufacture many other opportunities, with only two other shots taken in the match.
Traveling 5,000-plus miles following a 2-0 loss to Portland on Friday may be an explanation for the lack of chances on Sunday.
But for junior defender Lauren Hyde, the long trip is not good enough justification for the lack of energy the Gators had Sunday.
"We came out and looked tired and everyone knew it, but it's not an excuse," Hyde said. "We have to be able to come out and play.
"Luckily, we got the win today, but on other days the way we played today might not be acceptable."
Burleigh hopes her team can handle a tough travel weekend like this, and she reminded her team of that at halftime.
"(Burleigh) said that we should come out and prove to the fans that not only can we go and play Portland and travel all that way, but we should come out show them a good game," Elliot said.
It still took Elliot's first goal for the Gators to look alive.
Before the goal, it was difficult to find too many long bursts of energy from the team.
After Elliot put in the equalizer, UF's effort level seemed to increase for the finish of the game.
"I really felt re-energized after (the first goal), but I really think the whole team did too," Elliot said.
The win over the Jayhawks probably made the loss to Portland easier to swallow, but the Gators were not too upset over the defeat against one of the nation's best teams.
Elliot would like to get another shot at them in the postseason.
"I'm expecting (Portland) to be in the final four, so the 2-0 loss isn't that big of a loss," Elliot said. "I feel if we meet up with them again, we will have another battle with another turnout."
