Florida Lacrosse Wraps Up Fall Exhibition Season
Friday, November 4, 2011 | Lacrosse
The University of Florida lacrosse team enjoyed a successful fall slate, accomplishing many of the team's goals this offseason. After finishing the 2011 season ranked No. 5 in the IWLCA final poll, going undefeated (5-0) in the elite American Lacrosse Conference, and winning their first ever NCAA Tournament game, the Orange and Blue have even loftier goals for the upcoming 2012 season.
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
The Gators welcome back their entire starting lineup from their breakout sophomore campaign, while adding eight strong newcomers, seven freshmen and one transfer. Inside Lacrosse Magazine rated the recruiting class No. 3 in the nation, while four newcomers were ranked in the Top 25. No. 12 Nicole Graziano (Mendham, N.J.), the younger sister of redshirt sophomore Erin Graziano (Mendham, N.J.), No. 15 Nora Barry (Marcellus, N.Y.) and No. 18 Sally Jentis (Ridgewood, N.J.) all had outstanding falls for the Orange and Blue.
“I think our entire freshman class did a great job for us,” said Head Coach Amanda O'Leary. “Sally Jentis is stepping in on the defensive end of the field and had some great games this fall. Nicole Graziano as well as Nora Barry also did a great job offensively for us and through the midfield. Their transition from high school to college, especially on the defensive end, has really shown, so I'm really, really pleased with them.”
Taylor McCord (Jacksonville, Fla.), who was named to IL's Freshman Watch List, made her Florida debut opposite her parents, Mindy and Paul McCord, the head and assistant coaches, respectively, of the Jacksonville Dolphins, in the Gator Invitational.
Gabi Wiegand (Bay Shore, N.Y.) is a junior transfer from Richmond who played two seasons at attack in the Atlantic-10 Conference. Additionally, the Gators add freshman midfielders Mikki Offit (Bethesda, Md.) and Maegan Meritz (Farmingdale, N.Y.) to the 2012 roster.
“Mikki Offit is coming in a learning a new defense,” O'Leary said, “and I think she also is stepping up and really contributing. And then Taylor McCord, obviously on our offensive end, she's a lefty and has a great shot and certainly I hope we'll see a lot of her in the spring.”
The highest-rated Florida recruit, No. 6 Shannon Gilroy (Huntington, N.Y.), a member of the U.S. U-19 Team, is recovering from injury but is expected to be ready for spring.
FALL BALL FRENZY
The Gators enjoyed three weekends of competition over the past month, giving the newcomers a chance to get accustomed to The Florida Way and allowing the Gators to bond as a team. Florida opened the fall on Sept. 30, hosting the neighboring Dolphins of Jacksonville University in the Gator Invite. With just four days of team practice prior to the fall opener, the Gators quickly gelled as a team, seamlessly incorporating the Gator novices into UF's style of play.
Florida then headed up north to New Jersey on Oct. 15-16. The Gators participated in the Princeton Tourney on Oct. 15, facing Princeton, Syracuse, Penn and Albany in 30-minute mini-games. Florida closed out the trip with a full-length game at Rutgers on Oct. 16.
The Orange and Blue closed out the fall season with a trip to Durham, N.C., on Oct. 29-30. Florida opened the weekend on Oct. 29 with a rematch of the Gators' final game of 2011. The Gators defeated the Duke Blue Devils in the blustering cold, showing promise of an even brighter 2012 campaign. UF then closed out the offseason slate with the Duke Fall Invitational, taking on William & Mary, Old Dominion, Virginia Tech and Duke in 25-minute mini-games.
“I was really pleased with fall ball,” O'Leary commented. “The fall for us is two-fold; we're trying to get the freshmen acclimated to the workings of Florida Lacrosse and I really thought that they did a fantastic job, certainly not only in the practices but also in the scrimmages that we were able to participate in. So I'm really pleased with the freshmen and their effort. Overall, I'm really impressed with the group in fall ball.”
HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION
While most college students enjoy a relaxing summer off, the Gators made sure to stay in shape over the hot summer months. With the help of Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning Karin Werth, the Florida lacrosse team is as ready as ever to chase down ground balls, outrun defenses, and rip line drives into the back of the net.
“They have been working really hard not only in the weight room but also conditioning,” O'Leary said, “so I think their fitness level is where it needs to be and Karin's done a great job with our team in regards to that.”
Meanwhile, Assistant Coach Erica LaGrow brought her lacrosse expertise abroad, spending 10 days in Honduras in the remote village of Ahuas. LaGrow donated all kinds of sports equipment, including soccer balls and lacrosse gear, and conducted a sports camp for the underprivileged children with Penn State assistant coach Amy Altig, a fellow member of the U.S. Women's National Senior Team.
“Soccer balls are like gold to them,” said LaGrow. “They would take any sports equipment and anything like that and absolutely love it. It's really rewarding for us to go down there and learn from them as well, just about the simple things in life.”
STARS AND STRIPES
The weekend after the Gator Invitational, Florida's talented assistant coaches Erica LaGrow and Caitlyn McFadden took a trip to North Carolina to play in the annual Stars & Stripes Weekend as members of the U.S. Women's National Senior Team. The duo played in all four games as Team USA swept the tournament, defeating North Carolina and Navy each twice.
On the first day of competition, the team took on LaGrow's alma mater North Carolina, winning 13-7 and then 17-8. LaGrow scored a goal in the first game and McFadden had a goal and an assist in game 2. The following afternoon, the national team swept a double header against Navy, winning 14-7 and then 22-3. LaGrow had an assist and game one and McFadden scored a goal in the night cap.
In addition to the coaching duo, Shannon Gilroy and Sally Jentis are both members of the U.S. U-19 Team. Jentis was named as an alternate and earned a full spot due to Gilroy's injury, although neither Gator played in the 2011 FIL World Championship in Germany over the summer.
AWARD NOMINATIONS ABOUND
In addition to the Gators' seven All-America honors and six All-ALC team members, Florida Lacrosse garnered several national award nominations from national magazines. Inside Lacrosse and Lacrosse Magazine both nominated Gators in their annual lacrosse awards for 2011.
At the end of September, Kitty Cullen (Rockville, Md.) and Head Coach Amanda O'Leary combined to be nominated for three “Laxies” by Inside Lacrosse Magazine. Cullen picked up a nod for Division I Women's Player of the Year and was the only female nominated for Breakout Player of the Year. Additionally, Coach O'Leary was the only women's coach to be put up for Coach of the Year. The “Laxies” award winners will be featured in IL's December issue.
In mid-October, Lacrosse Magazine posted its fan polls for the Best of 2011, nominating Florida in two categories. Cullen represented the Gators in the Best Women's Performance category, praised for her six goals in the Gatosr' 13-11 upset of then-No. 2 Northwestern on April 14. As a team, the Gators were also nominated for Biggest Breakthrough, citing their “surge to No. 2 in the national rankings in year two of the program.” The winners of these awards will be announced in the December issue of Lacrosse Magazine.
VIDEO SEGMENTS
· Interview with Coach O'Leary after the Gator Invitational on Sept. 30: Click here for video.
· Erica LaGrow discusses her summer trip to Honduras: Click here for video.
· Interview with Coach O'Leary recapping the fall: Click here for video.
ARTICLES FROM OUTSIDE MEDIA:
· Matt Kinnear of Inside Lacrosse Magazine takes us inside Florida Lacrosse's summer workouts, with a little help from Ashley Bruns and Karin Werth: Click here for article.
· Inside Lacrosse Magazine's “Top 25 Rising Freshmen and Watchlist”: Click here for article.
· Inside Lacrosse Magazine's “Top 10 Classes”: Click here for article.
· Noelia Trujillo of Gator Country recaps the Gator Invite: Click here for article.
· Noelia Trujillo of Gator Country's feature on freshman Taylor McCord and her family: Click here for article.
· Halley Quillinan of Inside Lacrosse Magazine reports on the Princeton Fall Invitational: Click here for article.
· Jack Strickland of The Tallahassee News profiles a young girl's struggle with cancer and the inspiration she has drawn from Julie Schindel and the UF Lacrosse Team: Click here for article.
· Halley Quillinan of Inside Lacrosse Magazine checks in with Florida Lacrosse: Click here for article.
· Leslie Gaber of LaxMagazine.com recaps the Stars & Stripes weekend, where Florida assistant coaches Erica LaGrow and Caitlyn McFadden played against North Carolina and Navy: Click here for article.
PHOTO GALLERIES
· Photos from the Gator Invite: Click here for photo gallery.
· Photos from the Awards Banquet: Click here for photo gallery.
· Photos from the Duke Fall Invitational:
o UF vs. ODU: Click here for photo gallery.
o UF vs. Duke: Click here for photo gallery.
· Photos from the team's annual Halloween practice: Click here for photo gallery.
