While some teams held viewing parties to celebrate their selection to the NCAA Tournament, the No. 7 Gators did what they usually do on Mondays: practice.
Despite the NCAA Women’s Soccer Committee announcing the field of 64 yesterday afternoon, Becky Burleigh’s squad went back to work.
Fresh off the regular season and tournament Southeastern Conference Championships, Florida’s eyes now lay on the ultimate prize: a national championship.
The Gators, an automatic qualifier after winning their conference tournament Sunday, were selected as a No. 2 seed and will host one of the East Regionals.
Florida will challenge the Mercer Bears, the Atlantic Sun Champs and first-time NCAA qualifier, Friday night at 6.
The Gators practiced on Monday, skipping the selection show that aired on ESPNU. Florida only found its tournament fate after practice.
The dedication and commitment to the ultimate prize is one reason Florida is among a handful of teams capable of winning the national championship.
“We’re very disciplined,” SEC Freshman of the Year Taylor Travis said. “It’s not a party and we need to stay focused. This is where we’ll take the next step past others teams.”
While surprised at a possible snub of a No. 1 seed, captain McKenzie Barney said the Gators were appreciative of what they did get and just happy to play at home.
“We’re very motivated,” she said. “We had a couple of goals this season and we’ve got two out of the way. This season is far from over.”
Burleigh echoed Barney’s sentiments: “I’m just happy to be at home,” she said. “We’ve been on the road for a couple of weeks now, and the SEC Tournament is a really long haul, so being at home is really exciting. It’s always a good thing carrying momentum forward into the NCAA Tournament and certainly winning the SEC Tournament did that for us.”
The Gators, one of three SEC teams to qualify, will make their 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and will host a round for the first time since 2008.
South Carolina and Auburn were the only other SEC teams to qualify, something that disappointed Burleigh but didn’t surprise her.
“It’s a really competitive field this year, and it was going to be tough for [the SEC] to get more than three (bids).”
The Bears will be a familiar foe for the Gators.
“Mercer is a team we play every spring and we have a lot of respect for their program,” Burleigh said. “They’re going to battle. We know that. They’ve had a good season and did a good job to win their conference tournament.”
