For Annie Speese, 13 is a lucky number.
The sophomore midfielder dons the number when she takes the field, and through two seasons at Florida, it has worked out well for her. In her career, she has scored 13 goals and recorded 13 assists.
“Her technical ability is on another level,” fellow midfielder Erika Tymrak said. “Her left-footed shot is deadly.”
Speese showed off her dangerous left foot last week when she scored twice against South Carolina in Florida’s 3-0 victory. Both of her goals came after she entered as a substitute in the 71st minute.
“After the game, [assistant coach Alan Kirkup] said, ‘Well maybe we need to not keep you in the starting lineup,’” coach Becky Burleigh said.
Said Speese: “That’s not really the point I was trying to make.”
Speese’s two late goals sealed the victory and the Southeastern Conference title for the Gators but highlighted a flaw in their play.
Both of Speese’s goals, along with Adriana Leon’s game-winner, came late in the game. When Florida (14-4-1, 12-2 SEC) faces Mississippi (13-8, 5-8 SEC) in its first match in the SEC Tournament today, the team will try to score early and not play from behind.
“[Scoring early] would help us get composed and relaxed really early,” Speese said.
Since defeating Texas A&M on Oct. 7, Florida has scored only one first-half goal — a fifth-minute score from McKenzie Barney against Mississippi State on Oct. 14.
In the regular season, the Gators surrendered the opening goal of a match eight times. Florida pulled out five victories in those eight games but lost matches to Miami and Alabama. Neither team was ranked when it faced Florida, but each rode first-half offense to a victory.
When UF faced Ole Miss on Sept. 28, midfielder Havana Solaun buried a goal in the 15th minute, and Florida cruised to a 3-1 win. If the Gators want a repeat performance, they need to find their early scoring touch.
Said midfielder Holly King: “We have to somehow get ourselves amped up to go in the first half, rather than let it linger, play possession and then in the second half, strike.”
