The Florida lacrosse team flew under the radar in 2012, surprising the nation by winning the American Lacrosse Conference championship for the first time and making its first Final Four appearance.
Now, opponents have the Gators circled on their schedule.
“It’s definitely really exciting, but it’s also scary having a target on your back all the time,” senior Kitty Cullen said. “We have now become one of the top contending teams.”
Florida finished 19-3 in 2012 and only lost to top-10 teams. That success has generated high expectations for the No. 3 Gators in 2013: national championship or bust.
Florida coach Amanda O’Leary said that’s the position she wants her team to be in.
“You always want to be in a position to win a national championship,” O’Leary said. “That’s what you are out here to do, and that’s what we do as coaches and players. That’s our expectations.”
The Gators’ expectations are not typical for a program that began only four years ago. With a record of 45-15 in its first three seasons, Florida has earned elite status, and opposing teams have taken notice.
“It’s exciting always having the target on your back,” O’Leary said. “Every team is going to put their best effort forth when they play us, and I think that’s a different feel for our team. But they’re one to embrace that challenge.”
The players are not only prepared to step up to the challenge, they have yearned for the challenge all along.
“If you don’t have [a target on your back], you’re not doing anything right,” Cullen said. “You want to be a team that people want to beat, and you want to be a team that people are scared of.”
Florida will play the English national team in an exhibition on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Dizney Stadium.
Cullen believes that being a top-tier team is a perk of playing for the Gators.
“Being the University of Florida, we always have a target on our back, and it’s kind of a cool thing,” Cullen said.
The Florida lacrosse team takes a group photo after winning the American Lacrosse Conference tournament with a 14-7 victory against Northwestern in the final on May 5 at Dizney Stadium.
