It took 23 games for Taylor Travis to score her first goal of the 2012 season, but it came at the best possible time.
Sixty-one minutes into Florida’s NCAA Tournament second-round match against Central Florida, Travis received a pass from senior midfielder Erika Tymrak in the center of the box and drilled the ball past UCF goalkeeper Lianne Maldonado.
“I was beyond excited,” Travis said. “I didn’t even know what I did after I scored. I maybe blacked out for a couple seconds.”
Coach Becky Burleigh added: “I haven’t seen it on video yet, but from what it looked like on the field, it was a thing of beauty.”
Travis’ goal was all the Gators would need in their 1-0 victory against UCF on Friday night at James G. Pressly Stadium.
However, before Travis’ 61st minute goal, Florida (19-4-1, 11-2 Southeastern Conference) had difficulty finishing its opportunities. Travis’ score came on the Gators’ 13th shot of the night.
“We felt like we were in a really good place…with us putting the pressure on them,” Burleigh said. “I really felt it was going to come, at some point…it was just a matter of time.”
It was not just the Gators missing opportunities that prevented them from scoring. UCF (17-5-2, 8-3 Conference USA) goalkeeper Lianne Maldonado recorded seven saves in the game.
“Lianne was awesome tonight,” Knights’ coach Amanda Cromwell said. “Lianne has that pride. She wants to keep it out of her net.”
This win puts the Gators in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008. Florida will take on Notre Dame on Sunday at home.
“We haven’t gotten past this round our whole entire careers,” redshirt senior Kat Williamson said. “I think it’s a huge step for us, as a senior class.”
