The 2015 Florida soccer team is gearing up for another season under Becky Burleigh, who heads into her 21st year at the top of the program.
The team will look to improve upon its 2014 season, which ended with a 17-4-2 record and a west coast loss to Stanford in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tourney — the Gators’ first trip to the national quarterfinals since 2003.
Florida comes into 2015 without three of its top four point scorers from last season, after losing Havana Solaun, Annie Speese and Tessa Andujar to graduation.
The trio combined for 27 of the team’s 59 assists, which ranked sixth nationally.
Goalie and co-captain Taylor Burke, who tied a program record with 27 career shutouts, also graduated following the 2014 season.
Leading Florida’s attack is junior forward Savannah Jordan, who led the Southeastern Conference in six individual categories and was named to the NSCAA All-America second team.
Seniors Christen Westphal (first-team All-SEC in 2014) and Claire Falknor (second-team All-SEC), who played an average of 87.3 and 89 minutes of each 90-minute match last season respectively, return to lead UF’s backline.
The Gators added 15 players to the 2015 roster during the offseason, welcoming the newest of Burleigh’s signing classes.
The recruiting class is highlighted by the 2014 and 2015 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Soccer, Melanie Monteagudo, who led American Heritage High School in Plantation to three consecutive Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A titles.
Monteagudo set Broward County records for most goals scored (63) and assists (30) in the 2013-14 season.
Other incoming players for the 2015 season include midfielder Sabrina Chung who missed most of the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons with a broken toe in her right foot and U.S. Youth U17 National Team member, midfielder Mayra Pelayo.
A major question mark for the team heading into the season is which player will start at goalie for the Gators.
The options are redshirt junior Valerie Tysinger, who has played in nine games in her three-year career but hasn’t received a start, or freshman Kaylan Marckese, who has a two-inch height advantage on the veteran keeper.
The Gators open the 2015 season against UCF on Aug. 21 and will start the year on a three-game road trip before returning to James G. Pressly Stadium to play in-state rival and 2014 National Champions Florida State on Aug. 30.
Florida will attempt to defend its undefeated home record (10-0-0) from a year ago.
The last time the Gators lost a home match was in October of 2013 — a streak of 15 straight games.
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UF defender Claire Falknor waits for the start of the second period during Florida's 2-1 win against Troy in an exhibition match on Aug. 11, 2015, at the soccer practice field at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
