by Topher Adams | Special to MCLA.us

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- 692 days.

That’s how long it’s been since the Florida men’s lacrosse team played a true regular season game. After the pandemic prematurely ended the 2020 campaign, the 2021 season was patched together and incomplete.

Now the Gators are back in earnest in 2022.

Florida went 2-2 in limited MCLA action in 2021, including a big, 7-6 rivalry win against Florida State in Tallahassee. The season ended in disappointing fashion with a 11-5 loss to the Seminoles in Gainesville, but there is significant hope for 2022.

The Gators enter the season ranked No. 21 in New Balance MCLA Division I Preseason Coaches Poll -- the first time the program has been in the preseason rankings since 2011.

Last year was about building and enjoying what you could. In 2022, things are as normal as they can be.

The Gators will play a full 15-game schedule, with several huge matchups. There are four ranked contests on the schedule, including road games at second-ranked Georgia Tech and fourth-ranked Liberty.

The season culminates in the biggest game of the year: a road showdown with the rival Seminoles, who came in 13th in the preseason polls.

The Gators bring a ton of talent into the 2022 season, especially offensively.

Junior Ethan Ott was the team’s leading scorer in the abridged 2021 campaign, raking in six goals and four assists, and he’ll be leading an offense featuring Michael Fox, who had 13 goals as a freshman, and Ian Dexter, who was second on the team in points last season.

Senior Nolan Testa is back to anchor the midfield. Testa led all midfielders in points in 2021 and was second on the team in points in ‘20.

Defensively, things are a little less certain.

The leaders are poles Parker Beeson and Tyler Schaffer and goalie Matthew Corazon. All three have been key figures on the team for multiple seasons and bring real experience and leadership to a team that hasn’t played a lot of competitive lacrosse together.

Senior Kenny Geremia also adds to the experience of the group. Outside of those four, it’s a very young defensive unit.

Sophomore Cole Fox brings some experience from last year and will be a key figure for a rebuilding defense. With the blend of elite veterans and talented youngsters, the Gators have a strong defensive core yet again.

This season is all about potential.

It’s hard to say exactly how the Gators will play in 2022, because they haven’t played much competitive lacrosse over the last two years. But the pieces are there for an elite team in the SELC.

Garrett Hanrahan had his program on an upward trajectory before the pause, but the Gators survived the pandemic and have strong bones heading into this season. The boys in the Swamp are poised to make real noise in the MCLA in 2022.