With its season opener against Florida Gulf Coast just two days away, the Florida soccer team has a new core ready to lead the team.
The end of the 2012 season saw seniors Erika Tymrak, Jo Dragotta, Kat Williamson and Holly King graduate and begin careers in professional soccer. Mckenzie Barney also graduated.
The five combined for 27 goals and 21 assists last season.
Seniors Maggie Rogers, Caroline Triglia, Taylor Travis and Haley Reeb will take on an increased role this season. Each adds something unique to the team.
“It’s a lot of shoes to fill; I think it will take a while to replace them,” junior midfielder Havana Solaun said. “As a group we fill Holly’s shoes. We fill Kat’s shoes. It’s not just one person stepping up.”
Coach Becky Burleigh said she expects returning players to blaze their own trail rather than try to replace departed players.
“You have to lead within your own personality and your own strengths,” Burleigh said. “We’re asking our players to be self-aware and know their own strengths and really be smart about how they lead within those strengths.”
In Florida’s exhibition game against UCF on Friday, Burleigh saw her team’s weaknesses exposed, but she was also pleased with progress that was made.
After losing 2-0 to the fast-paced and aggressive Knights, Burleigh said the contrasting style of play was problematic for the Gators’ defense — something that must be resolved before the start of the regular season.
“We have to bring a bigger physical presence defensively,” she said. “Offensively, our shape was part of the problem. We were too narrow, and in soccer, you want to make the field big whenever we have the ball.”
Despite the loss, Burleigh said the team has shown positive strides.
“They’ve shown when we’ve thrown something tough at them they’ve been able to handle that,” she said. “At the same time they’ve shown the ability to have some composure. Those are two big factors and switching between the two is the hardest part.”
Florida’s opener against FGCU on Friday is the first of three consecutive home games to start the season.
The last time the two teams met, the Gators won 2-0 to advance to the second round of the 2012 NCAA tournament.
The Eagles failed to attempt a shot on goal during the game — the only such occurrence against the Gators last season.
Rogers expects a quick opening to the season with home advantage, stating: “Start strong, finish stronger.”
Havana Solaun dribbles past a defender at James G. Pressly Stadium on Sept. 21.
