Florida scores 20+ goals in back-to-back games for the first time since 2015

via UF press release/website, by Corey Lichtman

BOX SCORE

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Florida lacrosse team used a 12-0 first half run to help create separation and get the 22-6 victory of the Arizona State Sun Devils. The 11th ranked Gators earn their third straight win improving to 3-2 on the season, while the Sun Devils drop to 3-3 on the year. This is Florida’s first time scoring 20+ goals in back-to-back games since 2015, and the first time they have won consecutive games by 15 or more goals since May of 2021.

Coach O’Leary’s Insight
“I loved the way our team came out and played today. We got solid efforts from all positions, including Georgia and Elyse who made some fantastic saves on a very good shooting team. This win gives us great momentum going into our next game against UC Davis.”

15 different Gators recorded a point, led by Danielle Pavinelli who had four goals and three assists. She now has 13 points over her last two games. Gianna Monaco recorded her first career hat-trick, tallying three goals on the afternoon. Paisley Eagan, Josie Hahn and Emily Heller each found the back of the net twice in this one. This is Heller’s sixth straight game, Eagan’s fourth straight game, and Hahn’s third straight game with a goal. Madison Waters, Maggi Hall, Ashley Gonzalez, Sarah Falk, Delaney Radin, Ava Tighe, Gabbi Koury, Makenna Harrington and Alyssa Deacy all scored one goal each. For Koury, Harrington and Deacy it was their first goals of their collegiate career. Midfielder Cate Isaacson also recorded her first career point, assisting on the goal to Deacy.

UF continued their strong play winning draws, as they tied a season high 16 draw controls. Liz Harrison recorded nine, Heller recorded four, along with Falk, Isaacson and Sydney Wilson each controlling one.

Florida had 12 saves on the afternoon, as Georgia Hoey recorded eight of them and earning her third win of the season. Elyse Finnelle chipped in with four stopped shots.

After falling behind 3-2 in the first quarter, the Gators scored 12 consecutive and 20 of the next 23 goals to pull away. Florida out-shot the Sun Devils 15-3 in the second quarter and 37-22 overall. Florida is now shooting .597 from the field in their last two games averaging 21.5 goals per game. The Gators improve to 3-0 against Arizona State overall, and 2-0 in Tempe.

How It Happened

• Florida opened up with a great defensive effort, resulting in a Theresa Bragg caused turnover and Kaitlyn Davies ground ball. This led to Heller drawing a foul and converting on the free position opportunity to give the Gators a 1-0 lead.
•  After back-to-back green cards from UF, the Sun Devils converted on a free position shot to even the score at one.
• Two minutes and 40 seconds later, Falk connected on the eight-meter shot to put the Gators back in front with 8:18 left.
• Arizona State scored two free position goals within a 51 second span to give them their first and only lead of the afternoon.
• Two minutes later, Florida answered. A Pavinelli dodge and dish to Hahn was the equalizer to make it 3-3.
• 49 seconds later, Koury scored her first career goal on a free position shot to put Florida back in front with 3:35 left.
• After scooping the ground ball, Pavinelli concluded the quarter with her first goal of the day to put Florida up 5-3.

Second Quarter

• The Second Quarter was all Gators, as Hahn scored her second of the game just 21 seconds into the quarter off an assist from Hall.
• Just under two minutes later, Monaco dodged from X and scored to increase the lead to 7-3.
• Pavinelli found the back of the net two straight times within a 43 second span, one unassisted and the other from Waters to give her a hat-trick on the day. Florida led 9-3.
• Florida would tack on three more goals, one from Gonzalez, Waters and Eagan all being unassisted. The lead was pushed to nine.
• A Monaco goal assisted from Pavinelli and an unassisted goal from Heller concluded a 12-0 run from the Gators to put them up 14-3 with just under two minutes left in the half.
• The Sun Devils tacked on a goal before half to make it 14-4.

Third Quarter

• The Gators did not miss a beat, as Pavinelli scored her fourth of the day and 11th of the season just 57 seconds into the quarter to extend the lead to 15-4.
• Three minutes later, Pavinelli found Monaco for her first career hat-trick to make it 16-4.
• After a Sun Devils score, Eagan scored her second goal of the game to make it 17-5.
• Towards the end of the third quarter, Hall found the back of the cage in her 13th straight game on a free position shot to make it 18-5 going into the fourth.

Fourth Quarter

• With 7:36 left in the fourth, Deacy scored her first career goal of an assist from Cate Issacson, her first career point to make it 19-6 Gators.
• Ava Tighe found paydirt with 5:34 left for her fourth goal of the season to make it a 14-goal lead.
• Another new Gator scored, this time it was Harrington scoring her first career goal to make it 21-6.
• Radin iced the game off a free-position shot with four seconds left to conclude the 22-6 victory.

Key Notes

• Pavinelli now sits sixth all-time in goals and seventh all-time in points
• Heller sits just one goal shy of 100 for her career
• Hall is just six points shy of the 200 mark for her career

Active Streaks

• Maggi Hall: points (24), goals (13)
• Madison Waters: points (13)
• Emily Heller: points (12)

Next up

The Gators look to keep it going in the right direction, as they stay on the west coast to take on UC Davis on Wednesday at 4 p.m. (1 p.m. PST).

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