Different day, same routine.
Show resilience, bounce back and show that the team can push through adversity – all sentiments of a team that is struggling to put away opponents this season.
Conceding a goal in the final moments of Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Auburn, Florida’s soccer team looks to move on from their second Southeastern Conference defeat of the year and build upon their recent home-field success.
The Gators (8-3-0, 2-2-0 SEC) return home tonight, hosting conference foe Kentucky (9-2-1, 3-1 SEC) at James G. Pressly Stadium at 7.
Compiling a 2-1 record over a recent three-game road trip, the Gators managed to outscore Florida International, Vanderbilt and Auburn by a total of 11-6.
What’s done is done — shifting her focus from the past to the future, coach Becky Burleigh is excited to see how her team can learn from its mistakes.
"I think it will be great to back at home," Burleigh said. "Seems like it’s been a while since we’ve been here so we’re kind of excited about that."
Last season, Florida dropped two SEC road contests, including one at the hands of Kentucky.
Returning to Gainesville in the wake of that 2-0 shutout loss, the Gators clamped down, wiping out SEC opponent Tennessee 3-1 on a Friday night in October.
Sound familiar?
Looking for a bounceback performance, senior defender Claire Falknor is looking for the team to lock down in its defensive third.
"Our offense is looking great," Falknor said.
"And it’s good that we can come back from being down a lot of goals but it’s one of the key things we need to work on and lock down in order to get better as a team."
To this point, the Gators are 3-1 at home, the lone defeat coming at the hands of No. 16 Texas A&M on Sept. 10.
Aiming to tighten up on defense, Falknor wants her teammates to avoid dwelling on Sunday’s road loss.
"Hopefully we can shut them out and just dictate the offense," Falknor said.
Follow Ryan Summers on Twitter @RyanSummers18
UF soccer coach Becky Burleigh puts her arm around defender Rachelle Smith (81) following Florida's 3-2 win against Florida State on Aug. 30, 2015, at James G. Pressly Stadium.
