There is only one player remaining from Florida’s inaugural 2010 class.
That final player is redshirt senior goalkeeper Cara Canington, who is just one of two seniors that help lead the team of 11 freshman, 10 sophomores and four juniors.
Canington put her senior status to good use Saturday. The Bel Air, Md., native worked to keep No. 4 Florida in the game during its 20-8 loss to No. 1 North Carolina (1-0), by blocking 13 shots — her second-highest number of blocks in a game since 2010 when she blocked 14 shots against Johns Hopkins.
She allowed only 12 points before coach Amanda O’Leary subbed her out of the game with 13:24 remaining.
O’Leary said Canington’s performance allowed the Gators to stay in the game and kept them only four points away from tying it up at halftime.
Although Canington is the only player from the 2010 class still on the team, she is not the only goalkeeper.
Sophomore goalkeeper Mary-Sean Wilcox is efficient on goal, but the experience that Canington brings to the cage will be helpful for the young Gators as the freshmen begin to find their identity on the field.
O’Leary noted the difference in experience between Wilcox and Canington on Saturday after Florida’s loss to UNC, but she felt that the goalkeeper position was solid no matter the player.
“Mary-Sean came in under a really tough situation,” O’Leary said.
“I think we’re really solid there [in goal].
Wilcox made appearances in 11 games in 2013 and totaled 21 saves against 16 goals during her freshman season. However, Wilcox’s career high for saves in a game is six — fewer than half of Canington’s career high of 14.
Canington did not play during the 2013 season and redshirted.
Follow Eden Otero on Twitter @edenotero_l
