Nearly three months into the season, No. 5 Florida has successfully accomplished its first two goals.
The Gators took the Southeastern Conference by storm, defending their regular-season title for the fifth consecutive season and winning their first conference tournament since 2007.
Tonight at 6 against the Mercer Bears, Florida begins its quest for its final goal: a national championship.
Driven, confident and united, the No. 2-seeded Gators kick off their pursuit of national glory by hosting one of the East Regions for the first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
“We’re really excited,” All-SEC performer Erika Tymrak said. “The NCAAs is what we look forward to all year, and this is what we work for all season.”
Mercer, the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Champ, is making its first Women’s College Cup appearance in the program’s 26-year history and looks to play the role of David.
The Goliath Gators are making their 14th NCAA appearance in the program’s 16-year history, hosting a regional for the first time since 2008.
“After a long stretch on the road, it’s nice to sleep in our own beds and be able to play in front of our great home crowd,” coach Becky Burleigh said.
Despite the difference in programs, the two teams are quite familiar with each other, facing off the past three spring seasons with the Bears pulling out a 2-0 victory last spring.
The familiarity has caused the Gators to enter the match with a profound respect for their opponent.
“I know they’re good and it’ll be a good matchup,” forward Lindsay Thompson said.
