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Back on March 5th, the Syracuse Orange defeated the Florida Gators 12-11 in double overtime in Gainesville. At the time, Syracuse was 2-2 and just beginning to dig themselves out of their slow start while the Gators were 4-2 and trying to find some momentum as well.
Since then, both teams have basically torn up the women's lacrosse world. Florida (19-2) hasn't lost since, winning fifteen games in a row en route to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and their first Final Four. Not bad for a program in its third season.
Meanwhile the Orange (18-3) used that win to start their own fifteen-game winning streak and entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 4 seed before advancing to the Final Four for the third time in five years.
Both coaches look at the other squad and think the other is much improved since that initial meeting. Given how good the first game was, does that mean we're about to witness the greatest lacrosse game to ever be lacrossed? Perhaps.
"The teams have changed incredibly," O'Leary said in a conference call. "I had the opportunity to watch their (quarterfinal) game against North Carolina and I mean, they refuse to lose. They find a way to win."
"We're preparing for a much more experienced and confident Florida team," Syracuse coach Gary Gait said. "They're balanced top to bottom, good defense, middies, attack so they are a solid team."
Another big difference in this rematch is where it will be played. Syracuse gets the location advantage given that the game will be played in Stony Brook. And for those of you considering going to root on your Final Four squad, tickets are available:
Fans can purchase advance tickets for $12 for adults and $10 for youth ages 12 and under. In addition, tickets are available for groups of 20 or more people for $8.
Click here to purchase tickets. On game day, tickets will be available for $14 for adults and $12 for youth ages 10 and under. No group tickets will be available on game days.
Syracuse and Florida will tangle on Friday, May 25 at 5:30 p.m., followed by Northwestern and Maryland in the second semifinal afterward. The winners will face-off on Sunday at 8 p.m.