Florida lacrosse hosts Stony Brook

After opening the season 3-0 on the road, the No. 3 University of Florida lacrosse team opens up their home schedule as they face No. 18/19 Stony Brook on Wednesday. Opening draw is set for 3:30 p.m.

The Gators are off to their best start in program history with their 3-0 record which includes wins over No. 5 North Carolina, Jacksonville and High Point. They are returning to Donald R. Dizney Stadium for three games in five days which kicks off Wednesday against the Seawolves and continues with UC Davis on Friday and Albany on Sunday.

This is the second meeting of the two teams in the series history, with Florida holding a 1-0 advantage with their 17-4 win at Dizney Stadium on March 14, 2012.

Florida is led by a core of seniors returning for their final year in the Orange and Blue. Senior attack Gabi Wiegand (Bay Shore, N.Y.) is leading the Gators with nine points (seven goals, two assists) while senior midfielder Brittany Dashiell (Bel Air, Md.) has chipped in eight points (four goals, four assists). Sophomore attack Shannon Gilroy (Northport, N.Y.) leads UF with 10 draw controls, while ALC Defensive Player of the Week senior defender Emily Dohony (Parkton, Md.) leads with seven ground balls. Freshman midfielder Sydney DuPre (Houston, Texas) is the two-time ALC Rookie of the Week and has chipped in three ground balls, a draw control and a caused turnover.

Senior goalie Mikey Meagher (Liverpool, N.Y.) has started all three games in goal for the Gators and has recorded 20 saves so far this season.

The Seawolves (1-0) opened up their season last Saturday with a 20-5 win over Bucknell. The preseason favorites in the American East Conference returns its entire starting lineup and 96 percent of its goal scoring from 2012. SBU recorded a 14-5 record last season and went 5-1 in the America East.

They are led by senior attacker Claire Petersen, who notched a school record 101 points in 2012 on 42 goals and 59 assists. Other notables include senior midfielder Demmiane Cook (68 goals) and senior midfielder Janine Hiller (47 goals) who played for the Gators for two seasons. Petersen and junior goalie Frankie Caridi were named the American East Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, after their performances against Bucknell.

Courtesy of UF Communications