The Florida soccer team will host the Tennessee Volunteers tomorrow night for the team’s annual Senior Day. The Gators will enjoy returning home after two tough conference road losses, but losing a group of seniors that has meant so much for the program will be bittersweet.
The senior class consists of nine Gators, all of whom have contributed to Florida’s success over the past four years.
The nine include Tessa Andujar, Annie Bobbit, Taylor Burk, Lindsey Cooper, Jillian Graff, Karina Gutsche, Lauren Silver, Havana Solaun, and Annie Speese, a group that head coach Becky Burleigh talks very highly of.
“This is an unbelievable senior class,” says Burleigh. “They are a group that we’re heavily indebted to for the culture of our program.”
Her words are tough to argue with the team’s record at 65-22-2 since the arrival of this senior class.
The Gators (11-4) find themselves ranked seventh in the nation as they prepare to take on the Vols (7-8-1). Despite such a high ranking, Florida won’t be taking Tennessee lightly.
“They’re fighting for their lives,” Burleigh says of the Volunteers. “Those are the teams that are most dangerous. Those are the teams that scare me more than the top ranked teams. So for us, it’s about getting back on track.”
The Gators will need to do just that after dropping their conference record to 6-2 this past weekend. Florida will expect huge play out of sophomore forward Savannah Jordan who leads the team in goals with 11, as well as the teams assist leader, senior Tessa Andujar.
One thing Burleigh isn’t concerned about going into tomorrow night’s game, however, is her team’s motivation.
“I think our whole team is going to be very motivated Friday because, first of all, coming off of the two losses, but second of all because of Senior Day,” says Burleigh. “I know that they’re going to be motivated and I know that the other players are going to be really motivated to send them off in a good way.”
The match is set to begin Friday night at 7 PM.
To hear Becky Burleigh, click on the links below.