Lacrosse Reporter 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.
Florida lacrosse’s 2026 season was defined by an aggressive transition offense, late comebacks and an inability to give up. Though it aspired to participate in the national championship match, Florida ended the season 15-4, 5-0 Big 12 and did not advance past the NCAA Tournament’s first round.
The Gators (15-3) fell to the Pioneers (15-3), 16-8, at Prentup Field in Boulder, Colorado. The loss marked Florida’s first-ever loss to Denver and the end of its season.
No. 9 Florida (15-3, 5-0 Big 12) will travel to Boulder, Colorado, to play No. 13 Denver Pioneers (15-3, 6-0 Big East) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday at 9 p.m.
After a weather delay that spanned more than 3 hours, the No. 1-seed Gators fell to No. 2-seed Colorado in upset fashion, 8-6, as the Buffaloes stormed to their first Big 12 Tournament championship in program history on Saturday at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
No. 1 seed Florida (15-2, 5-0 Big 12) earned its spot in the Big 12 Tournament championship match with a definitive 22-7 win over No. 4 UC Davis (7-9, 2-3 Big 12) at Donald R. Dizney Stadium on Thursday evening.
With one more match in the regular season, Florida lacrosse was off to a slow start. In the first frame, the Gators only totalled two goals, courtesy of senior midfielder Kaitlyn Davies and freshman attacker Autumn Blair.
The No. 5 Gators (11-2, 3-0 Big 12) pushed past the Dolphins (9-4, 4-1 Atlantic Sun Conference) 12-11 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium in their final non-conference game of the season to extend their winning streak to nine games.
As No. 6 Florida lacrosse (11-2, 3-0 Big 12) reaches the midseason mark, the team’s dynamic has shifted, including a revolving door of starting goalkeepers and draw specialists, but one of the most notable differences is Autumn’s impact.
Train, recover, repeat. It’s a cycle college athletes across the country face daily.
Behind the strong start, the No. 6 Gators (11-2, 3-0 Big 12) overwhelmed San Diego State (2-11, 0-3 Big 12) 18-6 to take their third conference win of the season.
Lead singer of The Florals band Autumn Duigert performs at Loosey’s, Sunday March 8, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.
Solutions by The State News
