The Gators will see pink when they take the field at James G. Pressly Stadium tonight.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and coach Becky Burleigh believes it is important to host a “Kicking for the Cure” match yearly.
Her mother, Nancy, is not only a breast cancer survivor, but she has survived three other forms of the disease. She attends every game she can to support her daughter.
“She sits in the same spot and wears a pin with a picture of me when I was 10,” Burleigh said.
Burleigh also said the disease has impacted several players on the team.
“To be able to play a game in their honor is just something that we’re proud to do,” Burleigh said.
“To play for a group of people like that is just really inspiring.”
When No. 8 Florida (10-3-1, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) takes on No. 23 Kentucky (11-2-1, 5-1 SEC) at 6:30 p.m., the Gators will be playing with the cause in mind.
Kentucky comes to Gainesville tied for the second-best record in the league with South Carolina and Texas A&M.
“They always seem to get really up on our game,” Burleigh said of the Wildcats.
“They’re trying to defend their place in the lineup of the SEC teams, so it’s up to us to dictate to them and make sure we bring our A-game.”
In 2012, Florida lost to Kentucky 2-1 in Lexington, Ky. UK defender Arin Gilliland sank a penalty kick past goalkeeper Taylor Burke en route to the 2-1 win.
This season, Gilliland is still a threat.
She is the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week after she scored a hat trick on Oct. 11 in a 4-1 win against Tennessee.
But Kentucky won’t be Florida’s only challenge this weekend. LSU, the SEC leader, comes to Gainesville on Sunday.
The Tigers hold the top spot with a 5-0-1 record in the SEC, and Burleigh said it is up to the Gators to change that.
“We need to get better at the stats that reflect toughness,” Burleigh said.
Florida’s defense has been on point with developing that toughness, but the key to taking on LSU will come from using the outside backs in offensive roles.
Junior outside back Lauren Silver said using the width of the field and helping the team score early is what will make the difference this weekend.
“We like to score goals, and we like to show other teams that we can score goals,” Silver said.
“Getting that early goal in will help us get on a roll of scoring goals.”
Although wins are important, Burleigh is intent on honoring her mother this weekend.
“I tell my mom all the time that she’s like a cat because she has nine lives,” Burleigh said. “I really am inspired by her ability to just deal with whatever limitations she has on a daily basis.”
Follow Michelle Provenzano on Twitter @mmprovenzano.
Florida soccer coach Becky Burleigh's mother, Nancy, is a breast cancer survivor. Burleigh's mom has also survived three other forms of the disease.
