The Gators captured the 2015 BIG EAST title their first season in the conference.
Gators Picked First in BIG EAST Preseason Lacrosse Coaches' Poll
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 | Lacrosse
Five players are Preseason All-BIG EAST Team selections.
NEW YORK -- The defending BIG EAST Champion Florida lacrosse team was picked to repeat as league champions in the 2016 Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced by the conference office Wednesday afternoon. The Orange and Blue received six first-place votes and boasted a conference-best five Preseason All-BIG EAST players.
Gator senior Devon Schneider (A) and juniors Caroline Fitzgerald (D) and Mollie Stevens (M) were unanimous selections on the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team, while juniors Taylor Bresnahan (D) and Sammi Burgess (A) rounded out Florida's five preseason selections.
Fitzgerald, Schneider and Stevens were all 2015 BIG EAST First Team selections UF's first season in the conference, while Bresnahan and Burgess both picked up BIG EAST Second Team nods after the Gators' fifth conference championship in the program's six-year history.
Connecticut (2), Georgetown, Vanderbilt and Villanova rounded out the top five teams in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll, while Temple, Marquette and Cincinnati checked in sixth through eighth.
Florida returns four of its top five scorers from last season's squad, including Stevens, who scored 43 goals and notched nine assists last season to rank second on the team in points (52). In 2015, the Gators led the league in goals (121), assists (53), ground balls (155), points (174), draw controls (100), shooting percentage (.494), and held opponents to just 37 goals on the conference season with a .513 save percentage through BIG EAST play. Florida ranked second in caused turnovers (75).
Florida, picked No. 7 in the 2016 Inside Lacrosse Preseason Rankings, gets the new campaign started Feb. 6 at home in The Diz with a noon tilt against Loyola.
Complete BIG EAST Preseason Poll release.
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Jackie Froccaro, Villanova, Grad., A
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Kwasnowski, Connecticut, Sr., D
Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Kristen Bandos, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Taylor Bresnahan, Florida, Jr., D
Sammi Burgess, Florida, Jr., A
Jill Doherty, Vanderbilt, Jr., M
Corinne Etchison, Georgetown, Sr., A
Katherine Finkelston, Connecticut, Sr., A*
Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida, Jr., D*
Jackie Froccaro, Villanova, Grad., A*
Elizabeth Goslee, Marquette, Sr., D
Alexa Kunowsky, Vanderbilt, Sr., M
Lauren Kwasnowski, Connecticut, Sr., D*
Shannon Nee, Connecticut, Sr., GK*
Grace Nolan, Connecticut, So., A
Sam Scarfogliero, Villanova, Jr., D
Devon Schneider, Florida, Sr., A*
Mallory Schonk, Vanderbilt, Sr., A
Mollie Stevens, Florida, Jr., M*
Nicole Tiernan, Temple, M*
^extra players added due to a tie in voting
*unanimous selection
BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
(first-place votes)
Gator senior Devon Schneider (A) and juniors Caroline Fitzgerald (D) and Mollie Stevens (M) were unanimous selections on the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team, while juniors Taylor Bresnahan (D) and Sammi Burgess (A) rounded out Florida's five preseason selections.
Fitzgerald, Schneider and Stevens were all 2015 BIG EAST First Team selections UF's first season in the conference, while Bresnahan and Burgess both picked up BIG EAST Second Team nods after the Gators' fifth conference championship in the program's six-year history.
Connecticut (2), Georgetown, Vanderbilt and Villanova rounded out the top five teams in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll, while Temple, Marquette and Cincinnati checked in sixth through eighth.
Florida returns four of its top five scorers from last season's squad, including Stevens, who scored 43 goals and notched nine assists last season to rank second on the team in points (52). In 2015, the Gators led the league in goals (121), assists (53), ground balls (155), points (174), draw controls (100), shooting percentage (.494), and held opponents to just 37 goals on the conference season with a .513 save percentage through BIG EAST play. Florida ranked second in caused turnovers (75).
Florida, picked No. 7 in the 2016 Inside Lacrosse Preseason Rankings, gets the new campaign started Feb. 6 at home in The Diz with a noon tilt against Loyola.
Complete BIG EAST Preseason Poll release.
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Jackie Froccaro, Villanova, Grad., A
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Kwasnowski, Connecticut, Sr., D
Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Kristen Bandos, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Taylor Bresnahan, Florida, Jr., D
Sammi Burgess, Florida, Jr., A
Jill Doherty, Vanderbilt, Jr., M
Corinne Etchison, Georgetown, Sr., A
Katherine Finkelston, Connecticut, Sr., A*
Caroline Fitzgerald, Florida, Jr., D*
Jackie Froccaro, Villanova, Grad., A*
Elizabeth Goslee, Marquette, Sr., D
Alexa Kunowsky, Vanderbilt, Sr., M
Lauren Kwasnowski, Connecticut, Sr., D*
Shannon Nee, Connecticut, Sr., GK*
Grace Nolan, Connecticut, So., A
Sam Scarfogliero, Villanova, Jr., D
Devon Schneider, Florida, Sr., A*
Mallory Schonk, Vanderbilt, Sr., A
Mollie Stevens, Florida, Jr., M*
Nicole Tiernan, Temple, M*
^extra players added due to a tie in voting
*unanimous selection
BIG EAST Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
(first-place votes)
- Florida (6) – 46
- Connecticut (2) – 44
- Georgetown – 36
- Vanderbilt – 31
- Villanova – 26
- Temple – 20
- Marquette – 13
- Cincinnati – 8
Players Mentioned
D
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
D
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
M
/ LacrosseFlorida Lacrosse | Coach O'Leary and Theresa Bragg 4-30-26
Friday, May 01
NCAA: Coach O'Leary and Theresa Bragg 4-30-26
Thursday, April 30
Kaitlyn Davies: Gator Life
Tuesday, April 28
Kaitlyn Davies: Carwash Convos
Monday, April 27
