For Gators forward McKenzie Barney, today’s NCAA Tournament second-round match against UCF is a family affair.
The redshirt senior’s younger sister, Madison, plays in the Knights’ midfield.
Madison played a key role in knocking Florida out of the NCAA Tournament in 2011, scoring her only goal of the season to give UCF a lead in the sixth minute. McKenzie missed last year’s game after suffering multiple facial fractures earlier in the season.
“That was kind of hard, because I was really mad that we lost, but at the same time, I was happy for my sister,” McKenzie said. “It was (a) very mixed-emotion game. … I definitely did not talk to her for a while.”
McKenzie and Madison lived in Tampa for five years before moving to Seattle. When it came time to pick a college, both sisters chose to return to the Sunshine State.
“I came down here for a visit and fell in love with everything about UF,” McKenzie said. “Then Maddie came down to Florida. We both wanted to play in the sunshine, because playing in Seattle, you don’t like playing in the rain for soccer.”
McKenzie went to Orlando last Saturday and watched her sister’s Knights defeat Miami on penalty kicks, but she said she didn’t pick up any scouting tips.
“I think everyone knows as much as I know,” McKenzie said.
The Barneys are not the only sibling connection between second-seeded Florida (18-4-1, 11-2 Southeastern Conference) and UCF (17-4-2, 8-3 Conference USA).
Spayne Avant, a reserve defender for the Knights, is the sister of Jazmyne Avant, who played 97 games for the Gators before graduating after the 2011 season.
Although coach Becky Burleigh said last year's loss to UCF wouldn’t add extra motivation, some players said it would be in the back of their minds when the two teams take the field tonight at 7 at James G. Pressly Stadium.
“Of course there’s always the revenge factor,” senior midfielder Erika Tymrak said. “They ended our season last year. It was a very big disappointment, so I guess it just adds more fuel to the fire.”
The animosity isn’t limited to players who were on the 2011 roster.
“It’s a revenge match,” freshman center back Christen Westphal said. “I can only imagine how bad (last year’s loss) felt. But it’s definitely going to be a good game.”
