Erika Tymrak entered Florida’s Sunday match against Florida International as the team’s top scorer, but she squandered multiple chances to extend her lead.
The senior, who had totaled three points through the season’s first four matches, fired six shots against FIU but did not net a single one.
“I need to, obviously, put those shots away,” Tymrak said. “I was kind of lacking in having shots, period, in my previous games, so I think that the fact that I got some shots on is good, but obviously it’s not good enough. I need to put those away.”
Tymrak’s problem converting scoring opportunities was representative of the Gators’ only flaw against the Golden Panthers: the inability to convert on scoring chances.
“Our execution in terms of every facet of the game, except for finishing, was really good,” coach Becky Burleigh said.
Since upsetting then-No. 2 Duke on Aug. 26, Florida has taken 36 shots and scored only three goals, all of which came against unranked FIU.
Against No. 1 Florida State on Friday, UF had several opportunities broken up before it could create shots. The Gators’ defense kept them in the game and prevented the Seminoles from scoring a second time, but the offense failed to convert any of its numerous chances into goals.
“We certainly created some awesome chances,” Burleigh said after the loss to FSU. “Ultimately, that final execution was the difference in the game.”
The same lack of execution proved to be an issue against the Golden Panthers. However, Florida registered more shots against a weaker FIU defense, which allowed the Gators to score three goals.
“They were playing three in the back, which I think really favors us,” Burleigh said.
Florida matched its three-goal total from the Duke game, but was much less efficient.
Against the Blue Devils, the Gators scored three goals on only 10 shots. In the FIU game, Florida needed 24 shots to score three times.
“We just didn’t capitalize on all the chances that we had,” sophomore Tessa Andujar said. “We’ll definitely work on crossing and finishing this week.”
Tymrak said she needed to work on her decision making, including whether to pass to a teammate or take a shot when the opportunity presents itself.
Burleigh held an optional team practice on Tuesday to brush up on technique and try to help the team improve on finishing their scoring opportunities.
“You don’t go out to attempt to work on finishing because that’s an outcome,” Burleigh said. “Is our plant foot in the right place, are we striking with the right surface of our foot? Those kind of things, that’s something we can do.”
No. 24 Florida (2-2-1) will face an unranked New Mexico team on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Gainesville. New Mexico (2-3-1) will play Georgia on Friday.
“We have a lot to work on as a team,” Burleigh said. “We’ve still got to get better in terms of when teams take away some of our weapons, like how do we adjust to that.”
Erika Tymrak (17) battles with Crystal McNamara (15) of Florida International University during Sunday nights win at James G. Pressly Stadium.
