Senior forward Tahnai Annis knows how it feels to contribute as a freshman.
As part of a mammoth, 16-member freshman class in 2008, Annis started her career on a team-leading four-goal tear that included two weekly awards in her first six games — similar to this season, where half of UF’s goals have come off the foot of a newcomer.
But unlike 2008’s freshman-heavy squad that featured just three seniors, the current competition among No. 9 Florida’s 18 returning players and 13 freshmen is just heating up.
“I’m not surprised at all,” Annis said. “The freshmen all came in during the summer and they definitely all pulled their weight. They’ve really made a great effort to adapt to what we’ve asked from them early on.”
Last season’s leading scorer, Annis got on the board for the first time this year during Sunday’s matchup against FIU courtesy of an assist from freshman midfielder Annie Speese.
A pair of 2-0 victories into the season, seven of the team’s newest members have seen playing time, including a combined four starts from Speese, goalkeeper Taylor Burke, defender Lauren Silver and forward Tessa Andujar.
The 5-foot-2 Andujar’s debut Sunday against the Golden Panthers featured a goal in the first half. Fellow freshman Havana Solaun also scored two days earlier against Miami.
“It fires all of us up because when you have a freshman going like that, it makes everyone else want to work just as hard,” said junior Erika Tymrak. “When you have freshmen starting to lead, it bumps up the intensity and makes the team better as a whole.”
Before the season opener against the Hurricanes, Tymrak noticed many of the younger players were battling nerves and looked worried.
She tried to reassure them in the huddle, explaining that the pregame jitters were normal and a sign they were ready to play.
“We all have great chemistry and I’m really proud that they all stepped up,” Tymrak said. “I’m sure it was a really good feeling for Havana that she scored.”
With a brutal draw this weekend against No. 11 Texas A&M (1-1-0) and No. 16 UCLA (1-0-0) in Knoxville, Tenn., UF coach Becky Burleigh expects the competition between the upperclassmen and freshmen to continue.
“We have enough experienced players on this team that can talk to the younger players about what that’s like, about not being at home and how that’s different,” Burleigh said. “Part of the reason we did it was to put some challenges on this team early.”
Contact John Boothe at jboothe@alligator.org.
