Gator Lacrosse Defeats Northwestern, Claims First ALC Championship

Saturday marked another gigantic step for the fledgling Gators lacrosse program, a tournament championship that brought with it a crowning of the new big kid on the block. In defeating the defending ALC and NCAA champion Northwestern Wildcats (17-2, 4-1 ALC) in the conference championship game 14-7, the Florida Gators (17-2, 5-0 ALC) asserted themselves as a premier lacrosse program, if they hadn’t done so already. It’s been just three short years since the program began, and Gators head coach Amanda O’Leary says the victory was momentous.

Facing a Northwestern team they had already beaten 8-7 in Evanston, Illinois a few weeks earlier, the Gators showed no fear this time around, pummeling the Wildcats 14-7 in front of their screaming fans. Freshman midfielder Shannon Gilroy led the attack for the Gators, scoring a career high seven goals to pace Florida, while junior attack Kitty Cullen chipped in with three goals and an assist.

The Gators now prepare for the NCAA Tournament, but received great news in learning they’d be the top overall seed for the tournament. Following their impressive victory, junior attack Caroline Chesterman, who contributed three points against Northwestern, shrugged it off and said it the best…

The Gators will host Albany (12-5) next Saturday in the first round of the tournament.