Gators head coach Amanda O'Leary is ready to see how her team competes in the postseason, starting today against Temple in the BIG EAST Tournament. (Photo: Matt Stamey/For UAA Communications)
These Gators Built to Contend Past BIG EAST
Thursday, May 4, 2017 | Lacrosse, Scott Carter
The No. 2-ranked UF lacrosse team has won 15 of its last 16 games entering the postseason.
The No. 2 Gators (15-2) face Temple (13-4) this afternoon on the campus of Villanova University. The winner advances to face the Denver-Georgetown winner Saturday for the tournament crown. You can watch a live stream here.
Florida 45, Rest of Field 16.
What's that, you ask?
The Gators coasted to their third straight regular-season BIG EAST title by going 9-0 and faced the other three semifinalists, defeating Denver (15-8), Temple (15-5) and Georgetown (15-3) in easy fashion: a plus-29 for the Gators in collective score.
Of course, coaches are going to do what coaches do and UF's Amanda O'Leary is no different.
A legend at Temple – she led the Owls to a perfect record and national championship in 1988 – O'Leary has touched all the right bases in preparing the Gators for their final BIG EAST Tournament.
The Owls cannot be overlooked, darn it!
Still, anyone who knows anything about women's college lacrosse will be surprised if the Gators don't advance to the NCAA Tournament holding a conference championship trophy.
But yes, they do have to show up, because as the old cliché goes, anything can happen on any given day.
"It never gets old,'' O'Leary said prior to the team's departure. "You like to win championships. For us, that momentum winning the last game [against Georgetown] and then going into the tournament as the No. 1 seed, I think is a huge momentum builder for us. Looking forward to seeing how we compete."
If you were busy perhaps consumed by the UF men's basketball team's run to the Elite Eight or spring football or the No. 1-ranked Gators softball team and haven't paid close attention to lacrosse, this Florida team is good.
Really good.
Florida has won 15 of its last 16 games after losing its season opener to No. 3 North Carolina in a competitive showdown at Dizney Stadium, a rivalry that would certainly make for an interesting rematch.
Florida's only other defeat came at No. 1 Maryland, an 18-8 setback on March 29 that showed why the Terrapins are considered the favorite to win it all.
This is the Gators' eighth season since the program started play in 2010. They have not been to the Final Four since their third season in 2012, but with a strong senior class anchored by Sammi Burgess, and BIG EAST Attacker of the Year Mollie Stevens, a stellar defense and formidable goaltender in Haley Hicklen, maybe this is the year they return.
We'll see. First test comes this afternoon.
"It's all about where your rankings are coming into your conference tournament,'' O'Leary said. "It plays a huge part in NCAA seedings. For us, it's really important that we come strong through the tournament."
Players Mentioned
A
/ Lacrosse
GK
/ Lacrosse
A
/ Lacrosse
A
/ LacrosseSamantha Bohon 9-26-2025
Friday, September 26
Lauren McCloskey | Carwash Convos
Monday, September 22
Tommy Haugh Media Availability 9-22-25
Monday, September 22
Alex Condon Media Availability 9-22-25
Monday, September 22
