US Lacrosse Magazine released the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20 on Jan. 2. Team-by-team previews will be unveiled on uslaxmagazine.com through the end of the month and will also appear as part of the magazine’s NCAA preview edition in February. 

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No. 4 Florida

2018 Record: 17-4 (9-0 Big East)
Coach: Amanda O’Leary (10^th year)

All-Time Record: 310-101 
NCAA Appearances: 8
Final Fours: 1
Championships: 0

Florida has consistently been one of the top 10 scoring offenses each season, and there’s no backing down from a style that has worked well in most games.

The Gators, though, are hoping to balance a little better the high-octane attack with possessing the ball in some big spots where it may have cost them last year.  

“We’re certainly a team that’s known to run and gun,” O’Leary said. “It’s high risk, high reward. With that, you’re going to have turnovers. I don’t want to change. I love the way we play. I love the fact that we run and gun and play fast and go fast.”

In the Gators’ 17 wins a year ago, they averaged 17.35 goals and 13.11 turnovers. In their four losses, they managed just 12.0 goals per game and 17.75 turnovers.

“There were certain times that we needed to slow things down and value possession a little bit more,” O’Leary said. “There are things we’re working on this year, to find that happy medium between playing fast and getting up and down the field, and then getting to a point where now we need to take time off the clock.

“We’re trying to be smarter with the ball and the opportunities that are afforded us. It’s something we’re definitely working on. We’re still going to run and gun and take our chances but hopefully also incorporate some time of possession with the ball.”

Florida had one of the best shooting percentages in the country at .474, but in their losses, their shot percentage dipped – all the way to .296 in their 11-8 NCAA quarterfinal loss to James Madison and to .344 in a 14-11 regular-season loss to Towson.

“Sometimes we like to shoot to shoot and not really take the best shots,” O’Leary said. “Offensively, it’s looking to make sure we’re valuing possession and we’re taking shots that we have a good idea are going to have a good shot to go in.”

The offensive woes against Towson were due in part to not having top scorer Lindsey Ronbeck due to injury. She’s back for her senior season, along with four of the Gators top five scorers from a year ago. The offense’s challenges this spring are to replace second-leading scorer Shayna Pirreca and to play fast but smarter.

“We’re run and gun and we need to value possession,” O’Leary said. “That’s going to be huge for us.”

The Case For Florida

Florida has all but two starters back from a team that reached the NCAA quarterfinals. This year’s team returns with motivation to go even farther, and the potential to get there. They bring back big contributors all over the field and welcomed another good freshman class that will push the returning group.

Lindsey Ronbeck, Sydney Pirreca and Shannon Kavanagh lead the offense. Sabrina Cristodero and Kavanagh are back with more experience on the draw. Cara Trombetta and Cristodero are defensive stars in front of Haley Hicklen, a two-and-a-half year starter in goal who will be pushed by freshman Sarah Reznick.

The Case Against Florida

Florida graduated two of their all-time best players – Shayna Pirreca and Aniya Flanagan. Pirreca constantly came through for the offense and Flanagan was a leader of the defense and the ride. Florida also lost a freshman Emerson Cabrera to a knee injury in the fall.

The Gators’ biggest hurdle has been meeting postseason expectations. They took a step to get over the hump by winning their NCAA second-round game last year, but wanted to go further. Florida has to figure out the winning formula against top teams in their difficult non-conference schedule before they get into a lighter conference schedule.

Path to the Playoffs

Florida has the talent and experience to advance to final four weekend.  Getting there has been the elusive part. Eventual champion JMU stopped them last year. Florida will roll through the AAC and has a loaded non-conference schedule to prepare it for another shot at a deep NCAA run.

“When you have so many returners back, there’s a certain level of expectation that you as a coach want them to constantly compete at,” O’Leary said. “You want them living up to those standards. With the returners and freshmen, I was really impressed with what they did in the fall and how hard they worked.”

Players To Watch

Lindsey Ronbeck, A, Sr.
81 Pts, .804 SHO%

When Ronbeck missed games last year due to injury, Florida felt her absence. She can carry their offense, and she will battle even more defensive attention after graduating Shayna Pirreca. With another big year, the aggressive finisher could be under consideration as a Tewaaraton finalist.

Cara Trombetta, D, Jr.
43 CT 46 GB

The second-team All-America has started every game of her career. After establishing a single-season record in caused turnovers as a freshman, she obliterated that mark as a sophomore. She’s a shut-down defender that Florida uses to stifle opposing offensive stars.

Sydney Pirreca, M, Sr.
53 G, 49 DC

Pirreca was a captain as a junior, and returns to lead a midfield that continues to improve with young stars like Shannon Kavanagh. Pirreca has been more productive each season and that trend will continue for the speedy two-way middie who does a little bit of everything for the Gators.

National Rankings

Power Ratings (Scale of 1-5)

Offense
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Defense
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goalkeeping
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Draw
⭐⭐⭐⭐

33

Consecutive wins for Florida in the Big East Conference, which it is leaving after dominating the last four years. Florida hasn’t lost a conference game since 2015 and won all four Big East tournament titles. The Gators join the American Athletic Conference against several familiar foes and newcomer East Carolina.

5-Year Trend
Ground Balls (Per Game)

Coach Confidential
Amanda O'Leary

“Our mantra has been 'Don’t let a day go by without improving.' Even if it’s in the smallest detail or what you think is the smallest detail, each day we need to get better. The Marylands, the BCs, the North Carolinas are getting better every day."

Enemy Lines

"If they’re healthy – they’ve been plagued by a lot of injuries of top players and key players – but if they’re healthy they’re just so athletic and powerful. They are well coached and can play a really exciting brand of lacrosse. They have offensive players that can put the ball away and are nightmares for defensive players to try to match up on. I think the key for them will be staying healthy and keeping their key players on the field and not the sideline."

"They have amazing athletes, some of the best lacrosse players. Mandy O’Leary is going to say they lost a lot, I like Sydney Pirreca. I just admire their athleticism. There’s something to be said: training full time, being able to go out all the time. Florida is the place to be."