After a 1-0 loss to Missouri on Sunday, Savannah Jordan just wants to focus on the rest of the schedule.
The freshman forward took six of Florida’s 21 shots against Mizzou but couldn’t get the ball in the net.
“You just have to move on,” Jordan said. “You have to put it behind you because there are so many more games this season.”
Now in the midst of Southeastern Conference play, No. 8 Florida (8-2-1, 2-1 SEC) will look to redeem itself when it plays No. 19 South Carolina (9-1-1, 2-1 SEC) on Friday at 7 p.m. at James G. Pressly Stadium.
“South Carolina is always really defensively organized,” coach Becky Burleigh said.
“They’re hard to score on because they don’t take a lot of risk going forward, but they like to counter. We have to be aware of the counter, and I think we definitely have to be good at executing offensively.”
The Gators face the Gamecocks earlier in the season than in past years. Florida has a history of playing South Carolina close to the end of the regular season and right before the SEC Tournament.
The last time the two teams met, Florida blanked South Carolina 3-0 on Oct. 25.
After a rocky road weekend, Burleigh said the team worked on the mistakes it made during Sunday’s Missouri matchup.
“We have to play for 90 minutes or do whatever it takes,” Burleigh said. “We probably played for 70 minutes (of the Missouri game). That first 20 we just were a little bit behind and not quite in rhythm. It allowed [Missouri] to get on the scoreboard and that made us have to chase the game.”
Jordan added: “After Sunday’s game, I think we’re really going to be focused in wanting to come out with a lot of fire under us and come out stronger than before.”
A major part of playing the full 90 minutes is Jordan and her ability to score.
After notching Florida’s first goal in the fourth minute against Mississippi on Sept. 27, Jordan has 11 goals this season, tying her with five other players for sixth in the nation.
“My preparations will exceed my expectations,” Jordan said of her success this season.
“I thoroughly prepared myself coming in. Coming in the spring was a step up and helped me to exceed for the fall now. It wasn’t planned at all, but I’m happy it’s happening. I just hope I can keep it up and help the team win.”
Getting past the Gamecocks’ defense will be critical for Jordan, while the Gators’ key to success will be making plays early and finding the open areas when the defense targets the freshman phenom.
Florida concludes the weekend against Auburn (4-6-1, 0-3 SEC) on Sunday at 2 p.m. at James G. Pressly Stadium. The Gators beat the Tigers to win the 2012 SEC Tournament title.
“For us, it’s another chance to get three points,” Burleigh said of the weekend’s matchups.
“We want to go into each SEC game trying to get three points, no matter how that happens.”
Follow Michelle Provenzano on Twitter @mmprovenzano.
Savannah Jordan (left) battles for the ball during Florida’s 3-0 victory against Alabama on Sept. 20.
