2016 Preseason Tidbits

Senior captain Devon Schneider helped lead the Gators against the U.S. National Team Jan. 9

Wednesday, January 13, 2016 | Lacrosse

The Gators kick off the 2016 season Feb. 6 vs. Loyola in Gainesville

By: Kelly Reynolds

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- With the start of the 2016 lacrosse season just around the corner, the preseason No. 7/10 Gators are in full swing preparation mode for the program's seventh campaign, which officially kicks off Saturday, Feb. 6, at home in Gainesville against Loyola. After winning the BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles in 2015 in the Gators' first season in the conference, the stakes are high for a repeat performance.

Florida has won five conference titles, three conference tournament titles, made five NCAA Tournament appearances and competed in one Final Four in the program's six seasons on campus in Gainesville under the direction of Amanda O'Leary.

2016 Preseason Tidbits

Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-Americans: Caroline Fitzgerald (D) – First Team, Mollie Stevens (A) – Second Team, Taylor Bresnahan (D) – Second Team
The Orange and Blue kicked off the spring season with a friendly against the U.S. Lacrosse National Team Jan. 9 in Bradenton at IMG Academy as part of the USA Spring Premiere, and Team USA happens to feature three Gators: first year assistant coach Becca Block, Florida junior Mollie Stevens and 2015 Gator graduate Shannon Gilroy
While the Gators fell short against Team USA, 19-8, it wasn't without quality lessons along the way to help prep for the real deal next month
READ: Inside Lacrosse breakdown of the U.S. National Team vs. Florida here.
WATCH: Highlights of U.S. Lacrosse vs. Florida:
Florida Scoring: Lindsey Ronbeck 2; Shayna Pirreca 1; Carly Ross 1; Lauren Lea 1; Nicole Graziano 1; Sammi Burgess 1; Alex Puller 1
Florida boasts the No. 1 and No. 2 recruits in the nation in Sydney Pirreca and Lindsey Ronbeck entering the 2016 campaign

2016 Inside Lacrosse Preseason Rankings
1. Maryland
2. North Carolina
3. Syracuse
4. Duke
5. Northwestern
6. Penn State
7. FLORIDA
8. Stony Brook
9. Virginia
10. Boston College
11. Notre Dame
12. Loyola
13. Princeton
14. Penn
15. Stanford
16. Louisville
17. Ohio State
18. Johns Hopkins
19. Albany
20. USC
21. James Madison
22. UMass
23. Cornell
24. Connecticut
25. Georgetown

2016 Nike/Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Poll
1.     Maryland
2.     North Carolina
3.     Syracuse
4.     Stony Brook
5.     Northwestern
6.     Penn State
7.     Notre Dame
8.     Boston College
9.     Princeton
10.  FLORIDA
11.  Virginia
12. Duke
13.  Johns Hopkins
14. Louisville
15. Stanford
16.  Penn
17. Loyola (Md.)
18.  Ohio State
19.  James Madison
20. Southern California