GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The UF lacrosse team begins the 2026 season with the same postseason experience that has defined the program in recent years, but with a sharper focus on what remains unfinished.

After reaching the NCAA Final Four in back-to-back seasons, the Gators open the season at home on Friday against No. 17-ranked Michigan with national expectations, a top-five ranking and a roster that believes it can take the next step.

Junior defender Ashley Dyer said the team’s confidence has been built through months of preparation.

“Going into the season, we’re feeling very confident,” Dyer said. “We’ve been working really hard all fall and going into preseason … and we’re excited to get out and play and show what we’ve been working on.”

Florida’s season opener was originally scheduled for Saturday at Loyola Maryland in Baltimore, but the game was canceled due to weather. Florida now opens at home at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

 

schedule update 🚨

our game vs @LoyolaWLax has been postponed and rescheduled for February 17th, and our game vs Scotland has been moved to February 18th at 4pm

ℹ️https://t.co/Hkvi8t5FXn pic.twitter.com/jFO0hKhhyf

— Gators Lacrosse (@GatorsLAX) February 4, 2026

Dyer said opening weekends in recent years have helped prepare Florida for the kind of competition it expects to face again in the postseason. From underdogs to standard setters, Florida’s 2025 season began with questions from the outside after significant roster turnover, yet the Gators still returned to championship weekend.

This year, Florida enters with greater continuity and a reputation that junior midfielder Gabbi Koury said it expects to draw the best out of opponents.

“I honestly didn’t mind having the chip on our shoulder,” Koury said. “Being an underdog, you don’t see anything wrong with that most of the time. But it’s nice. I feel like we’re pretty well respected now, but now we have to hold that standard.”

Dyer said the team’s preparation has looked different because the roster is more settled and the competition level within practice has been intense.

“We’re a very competitive team within each other,” Dyer said. “Everyone’s fighting to the nail to show what we can do and make everyone better, and I think that’s what’s making a huge difference this time around.”

Koury said the offseason emphasis has also included team culture, something she believes will show up when Florida faces adversity during a demanding early schedule.

“A lot of it is team culture — bonding on and off the field,” Koury said. “Obviously, you don’t see that in the media or anything, but we have a really close-knit group this year, which is really exciting.”

 

Final Four Experience, Bigger Goals

Florida’s recent postseason runs have built belief, but both players said the team’s goals have expanded beyond simply reaching championship weekend.

“Making the Final Four my freshman year and again my sophomore year is just building everyone’s confidence,” Dyer said. “The Final Four has been awesome, but the goal is the national championship game.”

Koury added that the raised standard comes with pressure, but she views it as a positive challenge.

“I would say there’s definitely more added pressure, but in a good way,” Koury said. “We have standards to uphold, like going to the Final Four back-to-back, and obviously, we want that to be the goal this year — and not just that. We want to take it a step further to that national championship.”

Dyer, entering her first year as one of Florida’s junior captains, said leadership for her is centered on staying team-first.

“My goals are more team-oriented,” she said. “I want us to go to the national championship game, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get us there.”

 

Monaco Steps Away, Depth Remains a Strength

The Gators face the early challenge of overcoming the loss of one of their most productive offensive players from a season ago.

Gianna Monaco, a first-team USA Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason All-American, has stepped away from Florida due to personal reasons. USA Lacrosse Magazine first reported on Feb. 2 that Monaco was no longer part of the team.

 

“We wish Gianna all the best in her future endeavors,” Florida head coach Amanda O’Leary said via a prepared statement. “We are looking forward to starting the season.”

Monaco emerged as one of the nation’s top scorers in 2025, evolving from a role player into a go-to option. She compiled 73 goals, 22 assists, 22 ground balls, and 10 caused turnovers while helping lead Florida back to the Final Four.

Dyer acknowledged Monaco’s production but said Florida has enough contributors to pick up the slack.

“She did have a lot of points, but we also have a lot of other contributors who also contributed a lot of points,” Dyer said.

Dyer pointed to sophomore attackers Frannie Hahn and Clark Hamilton as examples of players ready to take on larger roles, while Koury said Florida’s depth may be one of its biggest advantages this season.

“It’s definitely going to make a little bit of a difference in our production statistics-wise,” Koury said. “But I don’t think we have anything to worry about because we do have a lot of depth this year. In fact, I think our depth is better than it has been in recent years.”

 

Built For Early Gauntlet

Florida’s first nine games include six ranked matchups, and both players said the opening stretch will help prepare the Gators for postseason-level competition later in the spring.

Dyer said facing elite opponents early – including a trip to No. 1-ranked North Carolina on March 17 – is valuable for a team with championship aspirations.

“It’ll definitely help us build our skill level and our competitiveness playing these tough teams,” Dyer said. “It’ll give us a little taste of what May could look like.”

Koury is ready to get started.

She described the Gators’ mindset in one word: determined.

“We’re not satisfied with where we are right now,” Koury said.

Florida is eager to open the season with confidence, depth and a clear goal: turning its Final Four experience into a national championship run.