via UF press release, by Katie Callahan

Opening draw is slated for 12 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.  

Game Notes

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 8 Florida lacrosse team welcomes the No. 23 Penn Quakers to Donald R. Dizney Stadium on Saturday for a Top-25 matchup.

Opening draw is set for 12 p.m. and fans that cannot be in attendance can watch the game on ESPN+ with Sean Salisbury and Shailey Klein on the call.

No. 8 Florida vs. No. 23 Penn Live Stream

This is the first meeting between these two squads, but the Gators hold a 7-3 series advantage over teams in the Ivy League.

Florida is coming off a dominate 20-5 victory over Cincinnati last Saturday, while Penn’s last decision was a one-goal win over Georgetown on March 26.  

Promotions

• Beach Day!
  • The first 150 fans in attendance receive a free Florida Gators cooler bag
  • The first 100 fans in attendance receive a free Hawaiian lei
  • Beach themed photo station – take your photo with inflatable palm trees, Gators surfboard, beach sign and beach props
• Hammock seating on a first come, first serve basis in the palm trees near the front gate

Tewaaraton Addition

• Emily Heller was named to the 2023 Tewaaraton Watch List in the second round of additions on Thursday
• Heller – a Babylon, N.Y. native – earns her first bid to the Watch List, joining teammates Emma LoPinto, Danielle Pavinelli and Sarah Reznick who garnered the distinction prior to the season
• Overall, the Gators have had 20 players earn 41 Tewaaraton Award Nominations in the 14-year history of Florida lacrosse, with five finalists

100-Club

• The Gators have two athletes on the cusp of entering the 100-point club this season after three players have already hit the mark in the 2023 campaign
• Paisley Eagan is at 89 career points, with 88 of them coming while she has donned the Orange & Blue (one point at Boston College prior to transferring)
• Emily Heller is currently at 82 career points to round out the Gators on a quest to hit the milestone

Florida in the National Spotlight

• The Gators are ranked in the Top-50 nationally in 15 categories:
  • Clearing percentage (1st | .957)
  • Turnovers per game (4th | 11.00)
  • Shot percentage (7th | .492)
  • Free position percentage (8th | .543)
  • Save percentage (9th | .510)
  • Scoring offense (14th | 14.80)
  • Scoring margin (14th | 5.20)
  • Points per game (19th | 21.40)
  • Scoring defense (21st | 9.60)
  • Shots on goal per game (23rd | 23.50)
  • Assists per game (25th | 6.60)
  • Caused turnovers per game (29th | 9.40)
  • Draw controls per game (32nd | 14.70)
  • Shots per game (34th | 30.10)
  • Draw control percentage (42nd | .527)
• The following Gators are ranked in the Top-50 nationally:
  • Emma LoPinto
    • Points: 39th | 40
    • Points per game: 43rd | 4.00
  • Maggi Hall
    • Shot percentage: 2nd | .700
    • Free position percentage: 4th | .800
    • Free position goals per game: 30th | 0.80
  • Danielle Pavinelli
    • Free position percentage: 17th | .636
    • Free position goals per game: 41st | 0.78 Emily Heller
  • Emily Heller
    • Shot percentage: 50th | .543
  • Sarah Reznick
    • Saves per game: 32nd | 8.60
    • Saves percentage: 15th | .503
    • Saves: 21st | 86
    • Goals Against Average: 25th | 10.20

Scouting the Quakers

• Penn comes into Saturday’s game with a 5-3 record overall and a 2-0 record in the Ivy League
• The Quakers are ranked No. 23 in the IWLCA/ILWomen’s Top-25 Poll
• Niki Miles is leading the way offensively with 26 points (21g, 5a), followed closely behind by Anna Brandt’s 25 points (24g, 1a). Erika Chung (7g, 13a), Maria Themelis (11g, 5a) and Patricia Columbia-Walsh (4g, 11a) each have recorded over 15 points throughout the season thus far
• Kennon Moon has registered a team-high 42 draw controls, while Natasha Gorriaran (21) and Anna Brandt (15) have combined for 36 draw control victories in the first eight games this year
• Defensively, the Quakers have totaled 74 caused turnovers, led by 12 from Sophia Davis. Niki Miles and Izzy Rohr have each recorded 11 caused turnovers, while Natasha Gorriaran and Kaitlyn Cumiskey have each tallied six caused turnovers this season
• Nine Penn players have recorded at least 10 groundballs this season: Sophie Davis (21), Izzy Rohr (19), Natasha Gorriaran (16), Niki Miles (14), Anna Brandt (13), Kaitlyn Cumiskey (12), Kelly Van Hoesen (12), Grace Fujinaga (11), Aly Feely (10)
• In the cage, Kelly Van Hoesen has seen a majority of minutes, coming up with 54 saves and a .388 save percentage

Florida vs. Penn Statistical Comparison

Quick Facts

• Gators head coach Amanda O’Leary is the 6th winningest active Division I coach with her .755 winning percentage in 28 seasons (372-121, .755). O’Leary has the 3rd most wins of active Division I coaches with 372 wins. O’Leary is 210-56 (.789) all-time at the University of Florida
• UF is 2-3 against ranked opponents this season
• Florida owns an impressive 122-22 (.847) record in the confines of Donald R. Dizney Stadium
• When scoring at least 14 goals, the Gators are 173-2 (.989) in program history
• Streaking: Sarah Reznick has recorded a save in 61-straight games, a new program record
• Streaking: Danielle Pavinelli has registered a point in 35-straight games and a goal in 33-straight games (third-longest streak)
• Streaking: Emily Heller had recorded a draw control in 33-straight games, the third-longest streak in program history. She is one game away from tying the second-longest streak  

No. 8 Florida vs. No. 23 Penn Broadcast Information
Time & Date: Saturday, April 1 | 12 p.m.   
Live Stream: ESPN+ ($)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast

Series Information – No. 8 Florida vs. No. 23 Penn
Quakers | 2023 season: 5-3, 2-0 Ivy

• This is the first meeting between the Gators and the Quakers

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