Expectations are generally consistent. If you ask coaches or players, they’ll tell you they expect to win a championship every year. Often these expectations are unrealistic. It’s either win a championship or a rebuilding year, nothing in between.
What separates the serious contenders from the ones who say it out of habit is the deep desire to win, the want to play for your teammates and coaches, the never say die attitude.
“The girls have a combination of hunger and desire,” Head Coach Gerry Lucey said as his team prepared for tournament play. “They are very determined and very motivated right now.”
After marching through the Sunshine State Conference tournament, the University of Tampa women met rival Rollins College in the championship game. Rollins had UT figured out this year, handing them a loss and scoreless tie before ripping the SSC regular season title out from underneath UT in the final week of play.
In a double overtime thriller, the UT women pulled out a 4-2 victory in penalty kicks behind a brilliant performance from goalkeeper Kori Butterfield.
“She had the best game I’ve ever seen,” sophomore midfielder Gabby Russo said with admiration. “We’re very confident with her and our team right now.”
Russo, a sport management major from Boston, has been a catalyst for the offense in her second year playing. “ I would rather set up an assist than score a goal,” Russo said nodding. “That’s the way I can be most effective helping the team.”
Russo, who is tied for second on the team in assists, has generated great chemistry with the team’s leading scorers Lauren Moore and Cici Gonzalez. “I bring the ball up the right side and Lauren and Cici are always there,” Russo said. “They’re up over the top for headers, we get a lot of goals off headers.”
The win against Rollins gave the program its third consecutive SSC title and fourth in the last six years, solidifying the success of the program. “It’s one of the most difficult conferences around,” Coach Lucey said. “We take great pleasure in the title, it means a lot.”
The team was awarded a number three seed in the NCAA tournament and blanked Barry University 1-0 in their first game. The girls then travelled back to Winter Park to once again play Rollins. Kori Butterfield recorded three saves as UT got the shutout 1-0. The lone goal came from Courtney Peffley on an assist from Russo. Peffley, a senior midfielder from Pennsylvania, has been with the program all four years and is the leader all girls on the team look towards. “I’ve been here and know what Gerry expects,” Peffley said after practice. “Some girls don’t know how hard it can be, I try and teach them.”
In the past, Peffley led more by example but with such a young squad this season, she has changed her ways. “I try to be a mentor on and off the field,” Peffley said. “Last year we had six seniors, I didn’t need to be that vocal. That’s changed this year.”
As the team continues its journey through the NCAA tournament, Peffley understands that every game may be her last in a UT uniform.
“I see myself leaving it all out on the field [in my last game],” Peffley said. “ I don’t want to walk off the field with any regrets.”
While Peffley has already played her last game at Pepin Stadium, she admits her final game will be emotional. “I’ve had some really good friendships and I’ve grown as a person,” Peffley said. “It will definitely be emotional.”
The team prepares for the South Regional Title where they will face West Florida, against which they hold a 1-1-1 all-time tournament record.
If the season were to end against West Florida, the team states they would have no regrets. “I wouldn’t change this season for the world,” Peffley said. “This season has been a fun ride,” Russo said with a smile. “Very proud of this team,” Coach Lucey responded. “How they’ve grown and how much they’ve achieved.”
But they aren’t ready to reminisce on the season yet nor do they expect to any time soon. “We have a never say die attitude,” Russo said holding her cleats, the last girl remaining on the field after practice. “We don’t want our season to end.”
Nathan Krohn can be reached at nathan.krohn@spartans.ut.edu.