Taylor Travis spent her first two seasons at Florida trying to find a way to score.
Now, in her junior year, her job is to stop other teams from doing so.
Before the women’s soccer team kicked off its season, Travis made the switch from forward to defender.
As a forward, Travis was named the 2010 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year and was chosen as a member of the All-SEC Second Team.
She started 17 matches, scored three goals and led the SEC with seven assists in conference play. Travis accrued 17 points overall in 2010.
However, in 2011, Travis had her minutes cut in half, and she only started four games. Her assist total fell from 11 to two.
With a crowded group of forwards including redshirt senior McKenzie Barney, 2011 All-American Erika Tymrak, Canada U-20 team member Adriana Leon and Florida’s only goal-scorer this season, freshman Claire Falknor, Travis made the move to the backfield.
Travis said she was ready to play as a back because she had prepared before the Gators’ season began.
“I played outside back a little in club and a little for the Region team,” Travis said. “I played that position before. It was a little easier transition than most people expected it to be.”
Travis started the season opener against Miami as an outside back and logged 62 minutes, more than she had in any game during the 2011 season. Against the Hurricanes, Travis pushed forward on the outside when the Gators held possession.
“We get forward so much, it’s almost like being an outside midfielder,” she said.
As an outside back, Travis can use the passing skills she demonstrated during her productive freshman season to set up scoring opportunities for midfielders and forwards.
However, with defenders playing forward on offense, the defense is more vulnerable if the Gators turn the ball over.
“A lot of us get caught going forward, and we’re not always going to keep the ball every time we go forward,” Travis said.
Travis will likely see playing time when the Gators travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., this weekend to play No. 14 North Carolina and No. 2 Duke. Travis is from Raleigh, only about 30 miles from Chapel Hill.
“That’s my hometown … I’ve got a lot of friends and family coming out,” Travis said. “It’ll be nice to have a little Gator section.”
When Travis’ friends and family arrive at the field, they may not be used to where she’s positioned, but Travis doesn’t mind.
“I can still be creative and go forward at the same time, and I’m also able to defend,” she said. “I love defending, and I love 1 v. 1’s, so it’s kind of the best of both worlds.”
Forward Taylor Travis pushes the ball against Florida Gulf Coast on Sept. 11, 2011.
