Lauren Silver is proving to be a catalyst when it comes to scoring goals.
The outside back topped her previous highest season total in assists after her cross from the near flank helped freshman forward Savannah Jordan score against Mississippi State on Friday.
Silver has five assists this season, with two of them setting up Jordan.
“Savannah and I kind of developed a pattern the entire season thus far,” Silver said. “Whenever I get the ball, I’m usually looking for her. When we got the ball, I kept wanting it to be switched to my side because I kept looking for Savannah. I knew that if we could give the ball to her, somehow we could get the result that we needed.”
The junior has had three years to develop her skills as an outside back and get comfortable in offensive situations.
In 2012, Silver notched only three assists as coach Becky Burleigh placed greater emphasis on midfielders making plays rather than outside backs producing assists.
The Gators scored 54 goals last season, but only one came from an outside back — a game-winning score from Taylor Travis against UCF in the NCAA Tournament. Of the 49 assists recorded in 2012, only 10 came from outside backs.
With Florida relying heavily on using the width of the field this year, the outside backs have produced more offensive plays.
Of the 30 goals Florida has scored this season, outside backs have made assists on half of them.
“When I can talk to [teammates] and develop a relationship with those people on and off the field, it makes it a lot easier to get my job done, as well as help them with theirs,” Silver said.
Those connections will be critical for the Gators this weekend. Florida faces the top two teams in the Southeastern Conference: LSU and Kentucky.
The Wildcats come to Gainesville on Friday with a 5-1 record in the conference. The Tigers, who are 5-0-1 in the SEC, lead the league entering the weekend.
Burleigh said she would like to see her outside backs continue to be involved at both ends of the field.
“Our outside backs are actually getting production this year,” Burleigh said. “That’s a credit to all of them for the work that they’ve put in both during practice and outside of practice.”
Follow Michelle Provenzano on Twitter @mmprovenzano.
Lauren Silver kicks the ball during Florida’s 2-0 victory against Minnesota on Sept. 13 at James G. Pressly Stadium.
