No. 7 Gators lacrosse (7-2) had a slow start to their season, starting off with a loss to No. 17 Michigan. Over time, however, Florida shook the rust off and focused on its team dynamic.
Now the team is on a four-game winning streak as it enters its first conference game of the season. The Gators only losses thus far have been to Michigan and No. 10 Navy.
Florida has struggled in two main areas all season: ground balls and draw controls. Although the team has shown improvement in draw controls from the beginning of the year, at times its ability still does not measure up.
Most recently, in the match-up against Dartmouth on Saturday, the Big Green beat the Gators in both areas, taking 15 to Florida’s 10 draw controls and having a 14-10 advantage in ground balls.
Ultimately, Florida clinched the win 13-10, but in such a tight game, those extra possessions could have led to a more comfortable win.
Entering Big 12 play, the road may get tougher for the Gators. Florida is ranked fourth in the conference, leading in goals per game (16.89) and second in saves per game (9.22).
In ground balls and draw controls, however, it trails Arizona State. The Gators are sixth in ground balls, averaging 13.67 per game, and second in draw controls, averaging 15 per game. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils average 17.64 per game.
Florida is also fourth in women-up goals per game, an area in which Arizona State leads. UF also slightly trails the Sun Devils in points per game. It averages 22.55 while Florida averages 22.11.
Florida comes off a historic season, clinching the Big 12 regular-season title and grabbing the Big 12 Tournament title after topping Arizona State. The team also made it to the NCAA Final-Four for the third time in Gator history.
Following their successful season, the Gators were left with few veterans. On a roster with 39 athletes, there are only seven seniors and three graduate students. Just four of which are regular game starters.
Earlier in the season, the team struggled to see the offense click, but as it’s progressed, the Gators have learned to rely on their young star attackers.
Sophomore Clark Hamilton has scored 33 goals, with seven assists in only the first nine games of the season. Last year, Hamilton tallied 55 goals and 15 assists over 23 games played. She’s en route to surpassing her freshman year record.
Also a big contributor to Florida has been redshirt freshman Frannie Hahn, who has tallied 17 goals and 14 assists already this season.
Defensively, however, the Gators have relied on their veterans. Senior Theresa Bragg and junior Ashley Dyer have been fundamental parts of this team's success through their communicative leadership on the field.
Bragg has caused seven turnovers this season and recovered seven ground balls. Meanwhile, Dyer has caused eight turnovers and recovered nine ground balls.
Both Bragg and Dyer are team captains this year, along with junior midfielder Gabbi Koury and senior midfielder Kaitlyn Davies.
The Gators are headed to the Sun Devil Lacrosse Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, where they will compete in their first conference game of the season Saturday at 1 p.m.
Contact Coral Uzgiden at cuzgiden@alligator.org. Follow her on X @coraluzgiden.
Coral is a sophomore Sports Journalism student in her first semester with the Alligator covering Lacrosse. She also has experience writing for WRUF and covering beats such as high school football and Gators swim and dive. She is an intern for the Women of the Lowcountry and in her free time enjoys playing waterpolo, going to the gym and being outside.
