The No. 6 Florida lacrosse team, riding an 11-game winning streak, returns to the friendly confines of Dizney Stadium to take on the Blue Jays of Johns Hopkins.
The Gators have outscored opponents, 172-85, since Florida’s overtime loss to then-No. 3 North Carolina, its only defeat of the season. Tewaaraton watch list honoree Kitty Cullen (Rockville, Md.) was named the National Offensive Player of the Week by WomensLacrosse.com. This is Cullen's first national honor and the second National Offensive Player of the Week honor for the Gators, as fellow sophomore Ashley Bruns (Ellicott City, Md.) was so named after her performances against Colgate and then-No. 11 Syracuse.
The Rockville, Md. native was also named the American Lacrosse Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week for games played from March 28-April 3. This is Cullen’s second-consecutive Offensive Player of the Week honor, the third ALC Weekly honor of her career and Florida’s fifth ALC Weekly honor of the season. This is the first time in program history that the Gators have had an ALC Weekly honor for four straight weeks. Cullen leads the nation in goals (56) and goals per game (4.67), while also ranking third in overall points scored (61) and sixth in points per game (5.08).
Cullen broke the school record with seven goals against the No. 16 Nittany Lions on only nine shots on goal (.778), while also including an assist for a career-high tying eight points on the afternoon. She set the pace for the entire game, notching a hat trick in the first 5:30 and scoring her first goal just eight seconds into the contest, the fastest opening score in Florida history and second-fastest in NCAA history. Cullen also had three ground balls and a draw control against Penn State.
Florida is fourth in the NCAA in scoring margin, fifth in win percentage, sixth in scoring margin, eighth in scoring offense and scoring defense and ninth in points and draw controls. Sophomore goalkeeper Mikey Meagher (Liverpool, N.Y.) is sixth in the country in goals-against average with 7.33. The Gator defense has held opponents to seven goals or less in half of the games (six out of 12) this season.
The Blue Jays are 7-4 on the season and had their three-game win streak snapped against Vanderbilt after wins against fourth-ranked Penn and George Washington. Sophomore goalkeeper Cosette Larash ranks 14th in the nation in goals-against average with 8.27 and the Blue Jays are 11th in scoring defense.
Johns Hopkins had two players named to the Preseason All-ALC Team: Candace Rossi, who led the Blue Jays in points (52) last season while being named to the IWLCA Second Team All-Mid Atlantic Team, and Alyssa Kildare who was First Team All-ALC and IWLCA First Team All-Mid Atlantic Team last season while leading Johns Hopkins in ground balls (44) and caused turnovers (28).
The Blue Jays went 10-7 (3-2 ALC) last season, as they fell to Florida in the quarterfinals of the 2010 ALC Tournament. Florida is looking to beat Johns Hopkins for the second time in three games, as the Gators fell in Baltimore last season, 8-16. The Orange and Blue then earned the program’s first postseason victory at the ALC Tournament a year ago, defeating the Blue Jays, 14-3.
PROMOTIONS FOR SATURDAY’S GAME:
Cancer Awareness Day - Fans will be asked to write a small note to cancer patients that will be delivered to Shands cancer center. The first 400 fans to arrive will receive a pink “Florida for the Cure” silicone wristband and a pink shaker.
Pre-Game Tunnel – Every Saturday, children are invited to the field to form a pre-game tunnel for the Gators.
Pee Wee Lacrosse Club Team Halftime Show – A kindergarten – second grade club lacrosse team will play for six minutes at halftime.
Post-Match Autographs – Every Saturday, the Gator team sticks around post-game to sign autographs on the concourse for all fans in attendance.
