With the defense already establishing an identity this season, Florida’s offense is now balancing the team.
The offense has registered at least two goals in each of the Gators’ four wins this season.
A total of eight different players have contributed a goal thus far, making Florida a multi-dimensional threat to opponents.
"I think for us it’s mostly about how we combine well as a team," coach Becky Burleigh said. "When you look at the goals we scored against FSU, we showed some patience, we showed some concentration in terms of the balls we were playing to each other and the ability to play to execute that. For us it’s just continuing to develop relationships between players."
Pamela Begic has been a part of that offensive scheme.
The sophomore midfielder was named the Southeastern Conference Offensive Soccer Player of the Week on Monday after she had a goal and an assist over the weekend.
Begic is the second Gator to receive an honor this season, joining forward Jillian Graff who received the first award on Aug. 25.
The Slovenian native’s goal from eight yards out snapped a 226-minute scoreless drought versus Florida State that Florida was held to since the 2012 matchup.
She also distributed the ball to teammate Betsy Middleton for a goal to secure the victory over FSU. Begic has now totaled one goal and two assists on the season.
But what’s more impressive of the offense is the ability to both establish the tempo early in games by taking leads and close the game out in the second half.
"In our training we do a lot of what we call situational plays," Burleigh said. "Playing, leading 1-0 late in the game, trailing 1-0, things like that so our players get some reps in what that feels like, but it’s never the same as replicating what happens in a real game."
Burleigh added that when Florida is not chasing a game, she believes the team has more patience. When they are down a goal, the Gators become impatient and rush passes.
Florida has only been in that situation once this season when they trailed Oklahoma 2-0, which displayed why the team became impatient and resulted in a loss.
Besides that mishap, Florida has recorded 12 goals in five games played and has averaged 2.4 goals per game. That is just 0.2 less than last season through five matches.
What can be more impressive is if they can tally multiple goals against another ranked opponent in Stanford.
The next match will mark the seventh time in the program’s 20-year history that the Gators will face a top-10 team in consecutive matches.
Fourth-ranked Stanford hasn’t allowed a goal this season, which creates a bigger challenge for Florida’s offense this week.
"This Stanford trip kind of came up late in the scheduling process. It was a late addition, and we just couldn’t pass it by because the opportunity to play them, they’re consistently good every year," Burleigh said. "To be in this environment, to play Stanford on the road, is great for us for the future of this season. In the big picture for us, the more exposure we can have with different types of styles and different types of teams the better."
Follow Lawrence Laguna on Twitter @LagunaLawrence
Pamela Begic dribbles the ball during UF's 2-0 win against USF on Aug. 24 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium
