via press release – photo from web site article   GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With the start of the 2017 lacrosse season rapidly approaching, the preseason No. 3/5 Gators are in full swing preparation mode for the program’s eighth campaign, which officially kicks off Saturday, Feb. 11, at home in Gainesville against defending national champion No. 1/1 North Carolina. After winning the BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles in 2015 and 2016, Florida will try for a three-peat in 2017. UF’s current 11-game conference win streak is the longest such streak in program history. Florida has won six conference titles, four conference tournament titles, made six NCAA Tournament appearances and competed in one Final Four in the program’s seven seasons on existence. All those accolades have been achieved under coach Amanda O’Leary, who has guided this program since its inception in 2010. 2017 Preseason Tidbits:

• Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-Americans: Taylor Bresnahan (D) – First Team, Caroline Fitzgerald (D) – First Team, Sammi Burgess (A) – Second Team, Lindsey Ronbeck (A) – Third Team, Shayna Pirreca (A) – Honorable Mention
• The Orange and Blue kicked off the spring season with an exhibition against the U.S. Lacrosse National Team Jan. 14 in Bradenton at the IMG Academy as part of the USA Spring Premiere.
• The Gators gave Team USA everything they could handle, using a 7-1 run late in the second half to take the lead; although the effort would fall just short, as the U.S. took the game, 20-19.
• READ: US Lacrosse Magazine’s breakdown of the U.S. National Team vs. Florida here.
• WATCH: US Women’s National Team vs. Florida – Team USA Spring Premiere (Full Broadcast)
• Florida Goals: Sammi Burgess 5; Shayna Pirreca 5; Lindsey Ronbeck 4; Mollie Stevens 2; Brianna Harris 1; Caroline Fitzgerald 1; Allie Pavinelli 1

Milestone Watch:

• Senior Sammi Burgess needs just 55 points to become the fifth Gator to eclipse 200 career points.
• Burgess has also scored a goal in 24 consecutive games, which is the fourth-longest streak in school history.
• With 36 ground balls this season, senior Caroline Fitzgerald will be Florida’s all-time leader in the category.
• Fitzgerald (61), along with senior Taylor Bresnahan (63), are both in line to break the all-time record of 70 caused turnovers held by Shannon Gilroy.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Haley Hicklen has logged 18 consecutive games with at least one save, the fourth-longest streak in program history.

2017 Inside Lacrosse Preseason Rankings 1. North Carolina 2. Maryland 3. FLORIDA 4. Stony Brook 5. Penn State 6. USC 7. Syracuse 8. Notre Dame 9. Duke 10. Northwestern 11. Penn 12. Virginia 13. UMass 14. Cornell 15. Stanford 16. Princeton 17. Boston College 18. Johns Hopkins 19. Towson 20. Loyola 2017 Nike/Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Poll 1.     North Carolina 2.     Maryland 3.     USC 4.     Stony Brook 5.     FLORIDA 6.     Syracuse 7.     Penn State 8.     Notre Dame 9.     Northwestern 10.  Duke 11.  Stanford 12.  Virginia 13.  Penn 14.  Princeton 15.  Johns Hopkins 16.  Cornell 17.  Towson 18.  Boston College 19.  Louisville 20.  UMass Follow the Gators: #FLax Twitter Instagram Facebook