Florida midfielder Rachael Zimmerman and assistant coach Erica LaGrow have two things in common. Both played lacrosse at North Carolina, and now the two are at Florida.
Sunday, the duo will visit familiar ground when the Gators (2-0) take on the No. 4 Tar Heels (3-0) in UF’s second-consecutive road contest.
Zimmerman, a sophomore, played at UNC for just one season before taking a year away from the sport and coming to Gainesville.
Going up against her former team will just be another test for her and the Gators. She has moved on from her time in North Carolina with no regrets.
“I don’t really think I have anything to prove to my old teammates or my coach,” Zimmerman said. “I’m pretty much at peace with the whole situation, so I don’t think I’ll be too nervous.”
The match will be the toughest test for the Gators’ lacrosse program so far.
A win would give them validation — and give Zimmerman a chance to brag to some old friends.
“I still have some teammates that I’m in touch with,” Zimmerman said. “One of my friends texted me and said, ‘See you soon; good luck,’ so it’ll be friendly competition.”
LaGrow, who was a senior during Zimmerman’s freshman campaign, said she had a wonderful four years at UNC and is looking forward to going back there as a member of the Gators’ staff for what she said will be “a great game.”
“A lot of them were my former teammates,” LaGrow said. “I competed with them day-in and day-out, so I know their little nuances and what they do pretty well. Hopefully that can provide us with an advantage over them.”
On the field, UF’s emphasis will be on attacking and controlling possession to keep the ball out of the sticks of the dangerous Tar Heels’ offense.
The challenge for the Gators is paramount. UNC has a 3-0 record, winning its first three games by 11, six and 12 points, respectively.
UF coach Amanda O’Leary said her team has been giving 100 percent in each of its games so far, and she expects her players to rise to the level of competition North Carolina will bring Sunday.
“They’re one of the top programs in the country,” O’Leary said. “It’ll be a huge test for us to go in there and play against a high caliber team, but that’s why these kids are at Florida, to be able to play against the best of the best, and certainly Carolina is one of those elite teams.”
