The Gators’ defense was stingy from the start last year, allowing just one goal through its first five games.
This season, it’s been more of the same with Florida shutting out Miami and FIU last weekend to kick off its 2011 campaign.
After allowing 15 shots — eight on goal — in the opener against the Hurricanes, the Gators limited the Golden Panthers to just six total shots, only three of which were on frame.
“Traveling away to get two shutouts, it’s awesome,” said junior defender Kat Williamson, whose play over the weekend earned her Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors.
However, Williamson said the defense, despite the shutouts, still has plenty of room for improvement.
“Our formation relies on everyone moving as a group toward the ball, and we need to be a little bit quicker with that and our counter attacks as well,” Williamson said. “Just playing simple and getting our jobs done, and I have no doubt we can do that.”
Gators coach Becky Burleigh echoed Williamson’s sentiment that there are still areas the unit can address.
“I think we gave up way too many opportunities against Miami,” Burleigh said.
“We were probably fortunate not to get scored upon. Against FIU, we definitely reduced their number of chances, but I just think we need to be sharper overall.”
Burleigh said one area the Gators are working on this week in practice is their defense against set pieces, which she felt led to too many quality scoring chances for the opposition during the weekend.
“When you are man-to-manning someone, it’s just you versus her,” Burleigh said of the set-piece defensive strategy. “It’s just pride. It’s pretty simple. It’s time to get it done.”
Many soccer formations put a heavy emphasis on the back line of defenders, who serve as the last wall of protection before the keeper.
However, the Gators’ defense focuses on each level playing together as one cohesive unit.
Burleigh said an integral part of the scheme requires her players to keep proper spacing on the field.
“We need to keep our shape, and that does not just include a back four,” Burleigh said.
Williamson added the defensive strategy involves players at every position.
“We’re trying to play a high-pressure formation,” Williamson said. “So if the ball is switched, it’s not only on the back line to switch. The forwards have to pressure, and the midfielders have to push up.”
Williamson started at center back in each of the Gators’ first two games and was the only player on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes.
The defensive attack anchored by Williamson is not only paying dividends in games, it’s having a positive effect on the offense in practice as well.
“It helps a lot to play against some really good players in practice,” said freshman midfielder Havana Solaun. “It just helps us grow as offensive players to play against strong defensive players every day.”
Junior center back Kat Williamson, who took home Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors last week, is the only Gator to play 90 minutes in each of the team’s first two games.
