Two different players can tell you the story of how Florida came away with its fourth straight SEC women’s soccer championship.
For redshirt freshmen McKenzie Barney and Kat Williamson, who both missed last season with torn knee ligaments, the feeling of being on the field was enough. This is what all that rehab work was for last year, they told each other. Now it was their chance to take the field and make an impact in a championship game.
In front of 3,104 fans at James G. Pressly Stadium Friday night, Barney scored the first two goals for the Gators in their 3-0 victory over South Carolina.
“This is the ultimate game,” said Barney, who now has seven goals for the season. “It’s such an amazing feeling.”
Freshman Erika Tymrak assisted on both Barney goals. The first came at the 19-minute mark off a crossbar rebound. The second came just five minutes later off of a pass from Tymrak.
Barney had just one defender, who was overplaying her, in the way so she took a touch and blew by. From seven yards out, she found the far post.
“So much was on the line, whoever won could win the SEC,” Barney said. “We knew it was going to be a bloodbath from the beginning. I think in the end, the better team won, but both teams played really hard.”
For Florida defender Lauren Hyde, this also was a game to remember. It was the fourth straight for her and her senior teammates. With the victory, Florida is 14-4-2 overall and 8-1-2 in the SEC. South Carolina fell to 15-3-1 overall and 7-3-1 in the SEC.
At certain points this season, especially after a tough weekend in Mississippi during which the Gators tied and lost, it didn’t look like Florida would be able to wrap up this SEC title. Even at halftime of this game, the Gators weren’t taking anything for granted. Up 2-0, the older players were preaching caution.
“I couldn’t have done it with a better team, and for us seniors, it’s quite an accomplishment to win it all four years,” Hyde said. “All of us are so happy to win it, and hopefully it’s something that will continue for a number of years.”
Both teams came out hard in what Barney described as a bloodbath, and Hyde ended up with a yellow card in the game. Head coach Becky Burleigh has never had a problem with yellow cards for passionate play.
“We knew we had to win,” Hyde said, “and we knew we had to come out hard to do that.”
Hyde also figured in the third goal in the 87th minute. She took the free kick and freshman Holly King headed it into the goal from 12 yards out for her third goal of the season. Junior Katie Fraine needed only two saves for the shutout.
The SEC title is Burleigh’s 10th in 15 seasons at Florida. The feeling doesn’t get old—only the ice baths.
“That’s the thing, when you play for Florida, that’s the No. 1 goal, to win the SEC,” Burleigh said. “When you win the SEC, good things follow after that. This is just a first step for us in terms of our postseason going forward, but it’s a big step.”
When Burleigh noticed that her team was excited and anxious before the game, she reminded the team that all those sweaty summer sessions and the tough Tuesday practices were for this moment.
“All the stuff that you work for comes to one night when you have a chance to put a ring on your finger,” she said, “and that’s a big deal.”
For Hyde, there is no better way to finish a college career. For Barney, there is no better way to begin one. For all of the Gators, the next test is the SEC Tournament next week at Orange Beach, Ala.
“We didn’t start out this season on the right foot,” Hyde said, “but we’re kind of settling down now. We’re playing the soccer that we know how to play, and we’re excited for the SEC tournament and the rest of the postseason as well.”
The Gators are peaking at the right time.