via UF press release/website, by Katie Callahan

Florida welcomes Jacksonville, Mercer and Notre Dame to The Diz for the opening weekend of NCAA play

Game Notes | Tickets | Full NCAA Bracket

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The NCAA Tournament returns to Gainesville as the sixth-seeded Florida lacrosse team welcomes Jacksonville, Mercer and Notre Dame to Donald R. Dizney Stadium for the opening weekend of NCAA Tournament play.

All four teams in the Gainesville bracket are either ranked or receiving votes in the IWLCA/ILWomen Top-25 Poll (Florida – No. 6, Notre Dame – No. 8, Jacksonville – RV, Mercer – RV).

Florida will be back in the friendly confines of The Diz on Friday, taking on the Jacksonville Dolphins at 4 p.m. That game will be streamed on ESPN+.

No. 6 Florida vs. RV Jacksonville Live Stream | No. 8 Notre Dame vs. RV Mercer

After the matchup between the Gators and the Dolphins, Mercer will take on Notre Dame under the lights at 7 p.m.

The winner of each of the first round matchups will face off Sunday at 12 p.m. for a chance to make the NCAA Quarterfinals.

Florida is riding an 11-game win streak into the NCAA Tournament and clinched the American Athletic Conference Tournament Championship with a 9-8 win over then-No. 6 James Madison.

Jacksonville (12-7) earned its way into the tournament after defeating Liberty in overtime of the ASUN Conference Tournament Championship game.

Parking Information

• Fans should be aware that Florida baseball takes on Vanderbilt at 5:30 p.m. on Friday night
• Overflow parking for the lacrosse/baseball games can use the Phillips Center parking lot and garage

Ticket Information
All-Session Package

• General Admission

• Adults:  $8
• Student/Youth: $5

Single Session Tickets (Friday, or Sunday only)

• General Admission

• Adults: $5
• Student/Youth: $3

No. 6 Florida vs. RV Jacksonville Broadcast Information
Time & Date: Friday, May 12 | 4:00 p.m.
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: NCAA.com

Scouting the Gainesville Field
Jacksonville | 12-7 overall, 6-1 ASUN

• The Dolphins earned the ASUN’s automatic qualifier after defeating both Coastal Carolina and Liberty in the tournament
• Florida is 1-0 against Jacksonville this season
• The Gators lead the all-time series 13-1
• Home: 7-0 | Away: 6-1 | Neutral: 0-0
• Last Meeting: April 26, 2023 | Jacksonville, Fla. | W, 16-11 
• Notable: This will be the ninth trip to the NCAA Tournament for the Dolphins, with JU sitting at a 3-8 record in tournament play
• Notable: The Dolphins had two members named to the ASUN All-Conference First Team, three to the All-Conference Second Team and two to the ASUN All-Freshman Team  

Mercer | 17-2 overall, 9-0 Big South

• The Bears earned the Big South’s automatic bid after topping Campbell 11-10 early Sunday afternoon 
• Florida and Mercer have faced off four times in program history, with the Gators holding the 4-0 series advantage. The two squads competed against one another earlier this season, with Florida winning 15-6 in Macon, Ga.
• Florida and Mercer have faced off twice in the NCAA Tournament, with the Gators winning both matchups, outscoring the Bears 42-17
• Notable: This is the fifth-straight season the Bears have won the conference championship, leading to its previous four NCAA appearances. Mercer is 0-4 in NCAA Tournament history
• Notable: Mercer won three major Big South awards – Emma Pizzo (Co-Defensive Player), Shannon Urey (Offensive Player of the Year), Samantha Eustace (Coach of the Year)

Notre Dame | 13-5 overall, 6-3 ACC

• The Fighting Irish earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after going 6-3 in the ACC this season
• If the two teams meet, it would be the first meeting between the Gators and the Fighting Irish
• Notable: Notre Dame had three All-ACC First Team honorees, three All-ACC Second Team selections and one player named to the ACC All-Freshman Team
• Since 2002, the Fighting Irish have made the trip to the NCAA Tournament 15 times, holding a record of 10-14 in the Big Dance

#FLax vs. The Gainesville Field

• Florida is 2-0 against the Gainesville field this season
• The Gators outscored their opponents 31-17 in the two games
• Maggi Hall leads all scorers with 11 points on seven goals and four assists, followed by six points (3g, 3a) from Emma LoPinto
• Liz Harrison recorded a team-high 14 draws controls, followed by four apiece from Emily Diaz, Emily Heller and Paisley Eagan
• Defensively, Emily Heller posted a team-high five caused turnovers between the two games, while also adding a team-high seven groundballs
• Sarah Reznick has tallied 13 saves with a .542 save percentage in 95 minutes of play, while Elyse Finnelle added eight saves and a .571 save percentage in just under 25 minutes between the posts

Quick Facts

• Florida had five players named to All-Region teams on Thursday afternoon, with Emily Heller, Emma LoPinto and Sarah Reznick earning spots on the First Team. Becky Browndorf and Maggi Hall garnered Second Team honors
• Danielle Pavinelli is just five points away from becoming Florida’s 11th 200-point scorer in program history
• Maggi Hall is just five goals away from hitting 100 for her career
• Florida owns an impressive 125-22 (.850) record in the confines of Donald R. Dizney Stadium
• When scoring at least 14 goals, the Gators are 179-2 (.989) in program history
• Florida is 12-0 this season against teams not ranked in the IWLCA/ILWomen Top-25 poll
• Streaking: Sarah Reznick has recorded a save in 70-straight games, a new program record
• Streaking: Maggi Hall has dished out an assist in 12-straight games, tied for the third-longest streak in program history 

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