The Florida Gators (1-1) take on the Michigan Wolverines (season opener) Saturday as two young lacrosse programs do battle. The Gators are in their sixth year as a program, in the middle of what they call “Phase 2”, the group that took the field after UF’s first class graduated.
Meanwhile, the Wolverines are in their second year as a program, and will be opening their campaign against the Gators on Saturday. So while Michigan deals with the season opening jitters, the Gators are coming off a win over Jacksonville, in which seven players put one in the net.
“There were a lot of positives for us, but we still have plenty to work on in preparation for Michigan on Saturday.” said Gators head coach Amanda O’Leary.
That preparation will be made a little easier by some familiarity between the Gators and the Wolverines. Last season, Michigan and Florida were both in the same conference, the American Lacrosse Conference, and the Gators got a 20-4 victory at home in the first meeting of the two teams. The coaching staffs also know each other well, as Michigan head coach Jennifer Ulehla was an assistant under O’Leary for the first two and a half years of the Gators program.
Opening draw is at 1 P.M. from the Diz.