Seven days will have been the longest break in between games that Florida lacrosse has had so far this season.
It’s also the longest break the team will have all year.
This weekend, however, begins a three-game week for the Gators.
No. 5 Florida (3-1) hosts Dartmouth (0-1) at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
The Ivy League squad lost its first game of the season last Saturday to Connecticut and had its game on Wednesday postponed due to wintry conditions.
Florida, meanwhile, has encountered no such weather issues and is in the midst of a dominant three-game winning streak.
The Gators are averaging 18.3 goals per game in their last three matches and are seventh in the country with 66 total goals on the young season.
Florida looks to maintain its offensive consistency on Saturday against the Big Green and pick up where it left off last weekend against San Diego State.
"They look really good. Every time we play them, we always have a good game against them, they’re always close," senior midfielder Shannon Gilroy said of Dartmouth.
"I think no matter what team we play this year, we need to come out tough and play our game."
Gilroy needs just eight more goals to become Florida’s all-time leading scorer, but she said she doesn’t think about that when she’s on the field.
All that matters to her is getting the win.
"My mentality is I hate losing, and I think everyone else on this team hates to lose, too," Gilroy said.
"The only thing I really think about going into each and every game is hopefully getting the outcome we want and the way we play."
The Gators’ defense also deserves credit for the team’s production in its first four games.
Last week, sophomore Caroline Fitzgerald was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Week.
And on Tuesday the league announced junior goalkeeper Mary-Sean Wilcox was this week’s recipient of the honor.
Florida has allowed 32 goals this season, the third least in the Big East.
Wilcox has accounted for 25 saves through four games, sharing time with freshman goalkeeper Olivia Cole.
Wilcox said she thinks the defense is clicking perfectly, a big key to the Gators’ success.
"All season and preseason, we’ve been working very hard to get on the same page," Wilcox said. "It’s showed. It’s proved that we’ve been working hard and it’s all paid off."
Follow Alex Maminakis on Twitter @alexmaminakis
Shannon Gilroy runs toward the net during Florida's win against San Diego State at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
