COLLEGE PREVIEW 2014 NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S TOP 20 5 Shannon Gilroy
Key Game If familiarity breeds
contempt, then it’s no wonder why this fast-burgeoning rivalry has our attention. Florida and Syracuse have met five times in the last three seasons, including two wins by ‘Cuse in the NCAAs.
I
Enemy Lines WHAT RIVAL COACHES SAY
“The cupboard is hardly bare. They play a fun style to watch and always have great fan support. Gilroy can dominate games single-handedly, but will need a strong supporting cast... Still fast and fiery on attack… Brings new meaning to the phrase ‘hit hard by graduation.’ It will be interesting to see which new players step up for the Gators and how they perform without the heralded Class of 2013.”
Florida GATORS
2013 RECORD: 18-3 (4-1 ALC) COACH: MANDEE O’LEARY (5TH YEAR) • RECORD AT FLORIDA: 63-18
09 10 11 12 13
Schedule Feb 8
Feb 12 Feb 15 Feb 20 Feb 23 Mar 1 Mar 4 Mar 8
at North Carolina Jacksonville High Point
James Madison Cincinnati
at Stony Brook at Loyola Michigan
Mar 12 Winthrop Mar 15 Mar 18 Mar 22 Mar 26 Mar 30 Apr 5
Apr 13 Apr 19
t’s tough to lose a monster senior class to graduation like Florida did. But there’s at least one upside: The Gators held the program’s first-ever alumni game, since there are now enough grads to field an opposing team. And there is some fun, fierce competition amongst the 2014 squad to replace luminaries like Kitty Cullen and Brittany Dashiell — stars who propelled Florida from 2010 startup to NCAA tournament contenders. It’s all up for grabs.
“There is a
real sense of excitement on the field with the ability to step into so many positions,” Gators coach Mandee O’Leary said. “People are going to walk on the field and fans will say, ‘Who’s that?’ And that’s
OK at this point. That’s exciting to have new faces out there.” Just three starters — junior midfielders Shannon Gilroy and Nora Barry and sophomore defender Sydney DuPre — return from the 2013 squad that reached the NCAA quarterfinals. On a relatively young and inexperienced
56 LACROSSE MAGAZINE February 2014 >> X-Factor A LAUREN LEA (SO.)
While working under new assistant coach Michelle Tumolo’s tutelage, Florida hopes Lea can ease the loss of Kitty Cullen.
team, junior midfielder Nicole Graziano counts as a veteran. She played in 20 games last season, starting two, and contributed 21 points. She’s expected to become a major contributor. Freshman midfielder Taylor Bresnahan impressed in the fall. “She’s someone who we might look at putting into that midfield,” O’Leary said. “Brittany Dashiell is a hard person to replace but I think we have some good options.” Florida’s attack is entirely new, but
they have the benefit of some new leadership with assistant coach Michelle Tumolo. The 2012 Tewaaraton Award finalist at Syracuse has encouraged more creativity and better stick work. Defensively, DuPre and senior Krista Grabher, a key 2013 reserve, are leaders. In goal, fifth-year senior Cara Canington
and sophomore Mary-Sean Wilcox both performed well in fall ball, and O’Leary was leery of naming a starter. Canington was the Gators’ starting goalie in the program’s first season in 2010, but she later was eclipsed by Mikey Meagher, and redshirted as a senior.
— C.L.
Projected Starters A Devon Schneider (So.) G: 5
A: 1
A Beth Willertz (So.) G: 3
A Lauren Lea (So.) G: 7
GB: 1 A: 2
M Shannon Gilroy (Jr.)* G: 52
M Nora Barry (Jr.) * DC: 34
M Nicole Graziano (Jr.) G: 13
A: 13 G: 26 A: 8
M Sam Darcangelo (Jr.) GB: 10
DC: 17
M Taylor Bresnahan (Fr.) G: 48
D Sydney DuPre (So.)* DC: 8
D Krista Grabher (Sr.) DC: 2
D Angela Flister (So.) GB: 9
* returning starters Top Returner M SHANNON GILROY (JR.)
The 5-foot-9 midfielder is the top returner in points (65) and draw controls (59). Possession will be key with a new goalie.
Power Ratings (SCALE OF 1-5)
3 4 3 5 OFFENSE DEFENSE GOALIE DRAW A Publication of US Lacrosse
A: 23 (at South River) GB: 15 CT: 3 CT: 3
G Mary-Sean Wilcox (So.) GAA: 5.44
SV%: 56.8
at Syracuse Dartmouth
at Ohio State at Stetson Penn State
at Johns Hopkins Vanderbilt
at Northwestern
Tournament Trend
QUARTERS FINAL FOUR QUARTERS
©GREG WALL (SG); ©FLORIDA (LL); ©MATT DUNN (SG); ©JOHN STROHSACKER (KD, KM)
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