By Brody Sauers, February 2, 2015 On Saturday, February 7^th, the University of Florida Women’s Lacrosse team, ranked as preseason number three by Inside Lacrosse, takes on the preseason number two, University of North Carolina, to open the 2015 season.  In 2014, the Gators, led by the nation’s leading scorer in Shannon Gilroy, finished with an 18-3 record and came just one overtime period shy of advancing to the Final Four.  The expectations in Gainesville are for Amanda O’Leary’s squad to do even better this year.

This year is Florida’s first as a member of the Big East lacrosse conference.  It seems that to make up for playing in the weaker Big East, when compared to last year’s American Lacrosse Conference, head coach Amanda O’Leary and staff have scheduled a very difficult out of conference schedule.  On top of opening against preseason number two North Carolina, Florida also faces number one Maryland and number four Syracuse, the two teams that played in last year’s national title game.  Shannon Gilroy and company play against three more preseason top-twenty teams and a total of seven NCAA tournament teams from a year ago. Returning to lead the team are senior midfielders Shannon Gilroy and Nora Barry, both of whom were All-Americans as well as All-ALC first teamers a year ago.  The Gator offense starts with Gilroy.  The 2014 Tewaaraton finalist seems to control every game, despite constantly battling faceguards, double teams, and even triple teams.  Utilizing her strength, excellent shot, and high lacrosse IQ, she is a danger whenever and wherever she is on the field. Look for O’Leary to find creative ways to get Gilroy the ball in space.  Playing adjacent to Gilroy is Nora Barry, who has started every game in her career at UF.  Barry does more than take advantage of opposing defenses’ focus on her teammate; she can make her own opportunities and will likely help coordinate this offense.  Barry dominates the middle third of the field and is always a threat.  Having played together for four years, Gilroy and Barry will certainly use their experience and chemistry as an advantage all year long.

Additionally, sophomore attacker Sammi Burgess, who was second on the team in points last season and earned recognition as ALC rookie of the year, will look to expand her role even further. Three juniors, attackers Lauren Lea and Devon Schneider as well as midfielder Sam Darcangelo, will be expected to continue their roles as offensive threats.  Lea dished out a team-high 20 assists last season, while Schneider and Darcangelo had 35 and 29 goals, respectively.  All four of these players (Burgess, Lea, Schneider and Darcangelo) will contribute to the potent Gator offense.   Florida certainly has the depth of a championship caliber team.  Sophomore Mollie Stevens returns from a 36 goal 2014 campaign, junior Carly Ross could improve on her 18 goals last season, Carli Marsh (from Pine Crest HS in Parkland, FL) will better the 10 goals she scored as a freshman, and Chloe O’Haire (from Saint Edwards HS in Vero Beach, FL) has the potential for a breakout year.  I think we will see a more balanced attack from the Gators this season as opposing defenses emphasize stopping Gilroy and neutralizing Barry.  This may open up space and opportunities for the attackers down low as well as for the other midfielders.  The team has the talent across-the-board to exploit these opportunities.  Like last year, expect Florida to press and capitalize on the fast breaks. On the defensive side of the field, the Gators return three starters and goalkeeper Mary-Sean Wilcox.  Junior Sydney DuPre, along with sophomores Caroline Fitzgerald and Taylor Bresnahan, will lead an aggressive defense.  Athletic freshman Aniya Flanagan may also have a chance to crack the starting lineup.  Fitzgerald and Bresnahan each had 22 caused turnovers last season.  Expect both these sophomores to continue to develop and become significant factors in disrupting opposing offenses.  Watch out for an aggressive UF defense capable of putting pressure on the best of teams and causing transitions going the other way. Wilcox, a light-footed goal keeper with above average stick skills for the position, started nine games in goal last season.  Wilcox looked very good in the playoffs for the Gators but, I would not be surprised if Coach O’Leary gives freshman goaltender Olivia Cole a chance in the cage at some point in the season, especially considering that Wilcox shared time in the crease with departed senior Cara Canington in 2014. Last year, Amanda O’Leary proved she can develop (and recruit) talent.  The 2014 Gators placed a whopping four players on the Inside Lacrosse All-Rookie team. Could something similar happen again this year? Maybe.  O’Leary has brought in a stellar freshman class, including 4 high school Under Armour All-Americans.  Freshmen Shayna Pirreca, Bella O’Connor, and Allie Pavinelli all have chances at playing significant roles.  This freshman class also includes two natives to the state of Florida; attacker Christiana Butz (Saint Edwards High School in Vero Beach) and defender Katherine Hamer (Coral Shores High School in Key Largo). Last season, the Gators enjoyed the luxury of having little pressure on them to succeed.  As a team that lost 13 seniors from the year before, not much was expected.  This year is different.  The Gators enter this season having lost only one starter from a team that came within one goal of the Final Four. They have all the components and potential of a championship team.  They also have the pressure and expectations of such a team. It all starts at Donald R. Dizney Stadium on February 7^th at 11:30 am when the Florida Gators challenge the University of North Carolina Tar Heels in what promises to be a heated, tightly-contested match. The University of Florida 2015 lacrosse schedule and more can be found here.