In 1995, Becky Burleigh started the Florida program not knowing what the future held. Flash forward 15 years, and the soccer coach has built the Gators into a national powerhouse, winning 11 conference championships, including five straight after a win in Columbia, S.C.
While the other football team beat its annual rival from the north, the No. 8 Gators (15-2-2, 9-1-1 Southeastern Conference) defeated their newfound adversaries, the No. 17 Gamecocks (14-4-2, 8-2-1 SEC), 1-0 on Friday, clinching the regular season conference championship and the fifth consecutive title for the Gators.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Burleigh said. “I think it was a great team win. [Winning the SEC title] is a different experience every single time, and they’re all unique, but it never gets old. Ever, ever.”
Jubilation rang in the postgame locker room, but no one was happier than the three seniors. Starters Katie Fraine (goalie), Ashlee Elliott (center back) and Nicky Kit (left back) propelled Florida to victory, insistent on not losing in their final regular-season SEC game.
While all three contributed to the team’s ninth shutout of the season, it was Kit who secured the victory in the final seconds of the first half.
After freshman Caroline Triglia maintained her composure following a run, Kit drilled a free kick with just two seconds left in the half for the only goal of the game. Following a South Carolina foul with less than 10 seconds remaining in the half, Triglia pleaded with the referee to give UF the appropriate 10 yards for a free kick. As time ran out, the official stopped the clock to make sure South Carolina was properly set.
With a left-footed strike, Kit ripped the ball inside the front right post from about 25 yards away, clipping the white bar in the process.
“I talked myself through it,” Kit said. “I thought of everything Coach Vic [Campbell] has ever taught me: use your legs, don’t aim and kick it hard.
“In that moment when everything goes quiet, and I just knew it was going in. I just knew I was going to score and I think everyone else did too.”
The halftime momentum swung in the Gators’ favor, and they didn’t letup in the second half. Despite blowing multiple one-goal leads earlier in the season, Florida refused to have a letdown and never allowed South Carolina to get back into the game.
“We showed a lot of composure in the final few minutes, which is something we’ve struggled with obviously,” Burleigh said. “[Friday], we proved to ourselves we can win on the road when we’re holding a 1-0 lead.”
