Top-Seeded Gators Set to Open BIG EAST Tournament Versus Villanova
Thursday, April 30, 2015 | Lacrosse
STORRS, Conn. – The No. 11 Gators enter Thursday's BIG EAST Tournament semifinal against Villanova as the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Florida (12-5, 6-1) plays Villanova (9-7, 4-3) on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at George J. Sherman-Family Sports Complex in Storrs, Connecticut, to open the four-team championship.
Thursday's game between the Gators and Wildcats will be a rematch of a regular-season game that took place on April 11 in Gainesville. Florida won that game, 21-3, behind four goals from senior Shannon Gilroy.
The winner of Thursday's game will play the winner of the tournament's other semifinal game between Georgetown and Connecticut in the final on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. The BIG EAST Tournament champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Quick Hits
- Florida has won two conference tournaments in its six-year history (2012 & 2014)
- The BIG EAST Tournament will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show will be held Sunday, May 3, at 9 p.m.
- During the regular-season conference schedule, Florida outscored its opponents, 121-36, and allowed just 5.1 goals per game
- Senior Shannon Gilroy was named the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year on Wednesday
- Gilroy enters Thursday ranked third-nationally in points (80) and fourth-nationally in goals (59)
- Gilroy's 241 career goals lead all active players and ranks 13th all-time in NCAA history
- Along with Gilroy, four other Gators (Nora Barry, Caroline Fitzgerald, Devon Schneider and Mollie Stevens) were named All-BIG EAST First Team on Wednesday
- Stevens enters with a program record 21-game goal-scoring streak
TV/Radio Links
Saturday's game will be broadcast live by the BIG EAST Digital Network here. Radio coverage will be provided by GatorVision here.
When/Where/How
The 2015 BIG EAST Tournament will be played at George J. Sherman-Family Sports Complex on the campus of the University of Connecticut. Opening draw for Thursday's semifinal is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and tickets are $5 for adult general admission, while youth and seniors are $3.
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