A historic season for the Gators lacrosse team came to an end on Saturday, as a late run wasn’t enough to topple No. 4 James Madison. Florida was held to single-digit goals for the first time this season as they fell to the Dukes 11-8 in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
It had been 1,101 days since UF last won an NCAA Tournament game, and early in its second-round game against Colorado at Donald R. Dizney Stadium, it appeared that drought would continue for another 360-some-odd days. But behind an eight-goal run and seven combined goals from the Pirreca sisters, Florida stymied the Buffaloes for a 13-9 victory.
A bachelor’s degree in history and a conference title?
When the Gators lacrosse team played Marquette on April 14, Lindsey Ronbeck was held to only one goal in UF’s 18-6 victory. However, the junior made the most of her second matchup against the Eagles, notching a Big East Tournament record eight goals as Florida defeated MU 19-8 in the Big East Semifinals on Thursday.
With snow flurries in the air, the Gators lacrosse team was able to endure the cold conditions, as well as a challenge from the Denver Pioneers, to walk out of Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium as the 2018 Big East regular-season champions.
The defending Big East champion Florida lacrosse team has looked the part during its tear through league play in 2018. Winner of five straight games, UF now has an opportunity to seal its fourth consecutive Big East title as it travels to Denver to take on the Pioneers on Saturday afternoon at 2 EST.
Florida dominates a conference opponent.
With the Gators’ 18-6 victory over Marquette on Saturday, UF lacrosse coach Amanda O’Leary said that her players are still focused heading into its longest road stretch of the season.
There’s a reason that the Gators lacrosse team was a unanimous pick to win the Big East during the preseason: it hasn’t lost a conference game since 2015.
Every week, Florida lacrosse coach Amanda O’Leary speaks about the importance of playing hard all 60 minutes. In Big East play, the Gators have done just that. On Saturday, they earned their fourth consecutive win by double digits, blowing out Marquette 18-6 at home.
As Towson exited Donald R. Dizney Stadium on March 21 following its 14-11 upset over Florida’s lacrosse team, the Gators knew they had to go back to the drawing board.
The No. 8 Florida lacrosse team continued its romp through Big East play on Sunday as it took down Villanova 18-8 on the road to earn its fourth straight victory.
Florida’s lacrosse team seems to be making the most of its Big East schedule.
Senior attacker Shayna Pirreca described the Florida lacrosse team’s victory over Connecticut on Saturday as a chance for a “fresh start.” If the 21-8 dismantling of the Huskies was an indication of how focused the Gators are heading into their final six games, then the Big East has been warned.
The Gators have every reason to be happy. The team remains undefeated in conference play, and its only three losses of the season came against ranked opponents.
Whenever a player has to miss time due to injury, it isn’t uncommon for him or her to take a few games to settle back into a rhythm.
Florida’s lacrosse team has relied on offensive outbursts in the second half all season long, and the story was no different on Saturday afternoon.
There’s no way around it.
Towson didn’t score many goals on Wednesday night. It didn’t need to.
After opening Big East play with an 11-10 road victory over Vanderbilt on Sunday, the No. 6 Florida lacrosse team will take on Towson in a non-conference match today at 6:30 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
Solutions by The State News
