The regular season is over.
The first round of the NCAA Tournament is over.
Florida is still standing, with its next hurdle being the second round of the tournament tonight.
The No. 2 seed Gators (15-4-1, 9-2 Southeastern Conference) will host the California Golden Bears (14-5-2, 5-4-2 PAC 12) tonight at 7 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
The Golden Bears advanced to the second round by defeating San Diego State 3-2 in double overtime last weekend in Berkeley, California.
Now, they have to make the trip across the country to face off with Florida, who defeated Mercer 3-0 in its first round match.
The Gators move from one bear opponent to another.
Florida is looking to build off of its balanced win over the Mercer Bears on Sunday and carry that momentum into tonight’s game against Cal.
"I think Cal is a very good team, I think it’s a really tough second round match," coach Becky Burleigh said. "But I’m excited to play them too, excited to play a team that we haven’t played in a long time, and I think it’s just going to be a good opportunity for us to test ourselves and see where we are."
Tonight’s game will be just the second meeting ever between Florida and Cal.
The last meeting was also in Gainesville for NCAA Tournament play in 2008 when the Gators won 2-1.
The winner of tonight’s match will face the winner of Auburn and Texas Tech, who face off at Dizney Stadium today at 3 p.m., on Sunday.
But, as Florida has preached all week, it isn’t looking past its next game.
The Gators are focused on Cal.
"I think right now we just need to stay present-minded and take one game at a time," said senior Taylor Burke.
"Since we’re so close, just keep our relationships well and just kind of go from there."
A factor that may play into tonight’s game is the temperature.
Florida practiced this week in the cold for the first time all season and is hoping it warms up a bit by the time kickoff comes around.
But with five players on the roster from Ohio, and players from Colorado, North Carolina, Illinois and even Canada, not all of the Gators are used to Florida winters.
Burke, from Medina, Ohio, joked that this week’s weather was "beautiful Ohio weather."
Senior Havana Solaun, of Gainesville, said she is up for playing in the cold and that it’s better than playing in the heat.
Despite what the elements may offer tonight, Florida needs to put on a solid performance all around if it wants to be playing again on Sunday.
The Bears won 14 games this season and present a tough second round matchup for the Gators.
The Florida seniors especially want to extend this season for as long as possible. They realize now that each game could be their last in a Gators uniform, so they are taking full advantage of their time left on the field.
That will continue tonight.
"For us, the ending of the season is more than just the actual team being done," Solaun said.
"I think that it’s crazy because this team will never be together again and I think that we’re all gonna lay it all on the field and hold on for as long as we can."
Follow Alex Maminakis on Twitter @AlexMaminakis
Havana Solaun kicks the ball during Florida's 2-1 win against Georgia on Sept. 26 at James G. Pressly Stadium.
