The Gators’ outside backs are fueling their offense in Southeastern Conference play.
Florida split results during road matchups with Ole Miss and Missouri last weekend but found solace in outside back Claire Falknor.
Against the Rebels on Friday, the sophomore found herself near the box, open and ready for a pass from freshman midfielder Pamela Begic.
Falknor turned and took a chance, shooting the ball into the net to give the Gators a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes of play.
The goal was Falknor’s first this season.
After turning in a 4-1 win at Ole Miss, Florida played to a different tune on Sunday.
The Tigers shook up the Gators in the eighth minute when junior midfielder Kaysie Clark put one in the left corner of Florida’s net.
Florida came out refreshed in the second half, taking 12 shots and racking up seven corner kick opportunities but failed to score an equalizing goal.
“In our sport, the game can be swung at any moment,” coach Becky Burleigh said. “You never know when that moment is. So it’s about being focused and doing the little things right.”
In the 73rd minute, outside back Lauren Silver had a look to the left of the goal.
The junior ran the ball in from the side and took a shot off her left foot.
The ball barely missed the goal, hitting the post and flying out of bounds.
Silver’s play was far from surprising for the Gators.
Burleigh said her team’s outside backs have the ability to consistently be offensive threats.
“We are pretty aggressive with our outside backs,” Burleigh said.
“We send them forward quite often. Last year we didn’t feel like we got a whole lot of production out of that, which was frustrating because it’s a big risk to send them.
“This year we’ve done much better picking and choosing our times and getting production from them.”
Silver may not have scored a goal this season, but she has stepped up as a playmaker for multiple Florida goals.
Silver earned two assists off two corner kick opportunities for goals against Florida International on Sept. 1.
She capitalized on that momentum against Oklahoma on Sept. 6, making a pass to Begic, who scored despite playing fewer than nine minutes in the game.
Silver now has four assists, which is just one fewer than junior midfielder Annie Speese for the most this season.
Falknor has two assists this season, and junior outside back Tessa Andujar has two after aiding junior forward Jillian Graff to Florida’s fourth goal against Ole Miss on Friday.
Burleigh said as consistent as the outside backs have been, there is still more for them to work on.
“Sometimes it’s about decisions like [Sunday], (where) we had several chances where our outsides backs got in to serve balls in,” Burleigh said.
“The good news is they’re effective in getting forward and now it’s just the final piece of that: getting the execution and obviously, the finish.”
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.
