Unseeded UF versus top seeded lacrosse program and a team attempting to repeat as national champs. Cinderella story. Certainly great year by UF to knock off so many traditional lacrosse powerhouse programs
Really good article: Underdog story: Florida returns to the NCAA women's lacrosse final four for the 1st time since 2012
From the article: Two more upsets and Florida would become the first program — men’s or women’s — south of North Carolina to win it all. On the women's side, I can't imagine a team south of UNC has even made it to Final 4, other than our 2012. Looks like a "no" for the finals.
Should we start a new thread for the F4 or stay here? I'm seriously jacked up. Before, I was scared sh*tless about Northwestern. Now, I can imagine everybody saying 24h from now "We should have seen it coming."
Here's the DraftKings line, FWIW: Spread: Northwestern -3 Over/Under: 27.5 Moneyline: Northwestern -360, Florida +260
There aren't that many competive teams south of NC I would imagine. Most in the SE are new and I am guessing it hasn't caught on in the SW or Cal yet. I have not looked to see where teams are--I could be totally off but if they were good wouldn't we have played them at some point?
Me either. Our odds to win it all are...not good: Northwestern +100 Boston College +280 Syracuse +450 Florida +650
You're right, Jacksonville is probably the only other program that cracks the Top 30. I believe I read that FSU is adding women's lacrosse for the 2026 season. I brought up the "below-NC" because it emphasizes even more what a great job Mandy and Foley did when launching. He gave her an extra year before games started, to have an easier build. That first season they played at Johns Hopkins. We went up in the icy rain and watched them get crushed. It felt like they couldn't even get the ball over the 50 yard line.
One of the early seasons we drove over to Northwestern to watch. Gorgeous field!!! As I recall we beat them. That was back in the days when we were in the same conference and they had to play us!!
Gators hanging with them and I think they've had some tough calls go against them. NW has been mugging Maggie Hall and very little has been called.
NW stretched it out 5-3 and 6-4.....UF with 2 quick goals to tie at 6 with 5 left in the half Tie lasts 30 seconds and NW retakes lead 7-6