First Draw is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on ESPNU and will take place at Vanderbilt Soccer/Lacrosse Complex

via UF press release/website, by Corey Lichtman

Watch No. 9 Florida vs. No. 18 James Madison on ESPNU
Follow throughout the game for live stats

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The stage is set for the AAC Conference Tournament game, as the ninth-ranked and first-seeded Florida lacrosse team will take on the 18th ranked and two-seeded James Madison Dukes in a rematch of the 2023 championship. Opening draw will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. ET and 12 p.m. CT on ESPNU and at Vanderbilt Soccer/Lacrosse Complex.

This is the sixth career meeting between these two programs with the Gators leading the all-time series 3-2. Florida has won the last two meetings against James Madison, including earlier this season on April 13, when UF defeated the Dukes by a score of 15-7. It was a close game, as the Gators were trailing 6-5 with 12:31 left in the third quarter, before they blitzed the Dukes with an 8-0 and 10-1 run to end the game in victory. Six different Gators had multiple goal games, led by Danielle Pavinelli who totaled two goals and three assists. Elyse Finnelle made 12 saves in net.

Florida (16-2, 6-0 AAC) is coming off a 17-8 victory over fourth-seeded Vanderbilt on Thursday in the semifinals. It was only the second time this season the Gators did not score first, as they found themselves trailing three different times in the first half. Down 6-4 in the second quarter, UF scored 12 unanswered goals in a 26:09 timespan to pull away for their 10th straight win of eight or more goals. Eight different Gators found pay dirt, led by a season high five goals from Emily Heller, along with four goals and three assists from Maggi Hall.

Outlook on the Dukes
James Madison (13-4, 5-1 AAC) is returning to its second consecutive AAC championship game after defeating three-seeded Temple by a score of 16-7 on Thursday night.

The Dukes were ranked as high as two this season after a 6-0 start. They have dropped four games since then, all to ranked opponents. The Dukes are led by 2023 Tewaaraton Finalist Isabella Peterson, who was 65 goals and 10 assists on the season. She is accompanied by the two-way player of Maddie Epke, who has 49 goals and 20 assists, along with ranking second in the AAC and seventh in the country in draw controls at 164. Katelyn Morgan and Kacey Knobloch are the Dukes top facilitators, combining for 59 of the teams 115 assists on the season.

James Madison is coached by Shelley Klaes who is in her 18th season in Harrisonburg, and 23rd overall. She has a 288-135 record in her career, leading the Dukes to a national championship in 2018.

Rematch in the Chip’
These two teams met last year in Philadelphia in the AAC Championship game, as the Gators were victorious in a thriller by a score of 9-8. It was a game that featured five lead changes, as UF trailed 8-7 heading into the fourth. Florida outscored the Dukes 2-0 in the final frame, and Madison Waters second goal of the game at the 10:43 mark was the inevitable game winner for the Gators. Pavinelli led the orange and blue with three goals and an assist.

Sweet 16
Florida has not lost a game in 76 days, and is currently riding a 16-game winning streak, which is good for the longest streak in program history. The Gators have outscored their opponents by a 308-108 margin during these 16 games, good for an average victory of 12.50 goals per game, and a scoring offense of 19.25 goals per game.

Hall-tastic
Hall has been exceptional this season for the Gators. The senior is tied team lead in goals with 44, while leading the team in assists with 48. She has 10 games this season with five points or more and has totaled seven hat-tricks. Hall is averaging six points per game over her last eight contests, totaling 26 goals and 22 assists.

Senior Presence
Seven of Florida’s eight leading scorers are seniors. Outside of Gianna Monaco (26 goals), Hall (44 goals), Pavinelli (44 goals), Heller (37 goals), Ashley Gonzalez (25 goals), Madison Waters (25 goals), Sarah Falk (25 goals) and Paisley Eagan (20 goals) are all seniors accounting for 20 or more goals. Seniors have accounted for a total of 226 of the teams 328 goals this season, which is good for 68.9 percent.

Setting the Scene
These two AAC powerhouses rang among some of the best in the nation in multiple categories. Both teams rank inside the top-15 in scoring offense, points per game, draw controls per game, draw controls percentage, and shot on goal percentage. The Dukes won the draw control battle 13-12 in the first meeting this season, but the Gators got the last laugh, out drawing the Duke 6-3 in the fourth quarter.

Key Notes

• The Gators are 76-56 all-time against ranked opponents
• They are 14-2 all-time in the central time zone
• Pavinelli has recorded at least two goals in all three matchups against the Dukes in her career

Milestone Watching

• Amanda O’Leary is two wins away from 400 in her career
• Danielle Pavinelli is six goals away from 200 for her career, six points behind Ashley Bruns for fourth in points, and three assists behind Sammi Burgess for fifth all-time
• Emily Heller is three ground balls behind Sarah Reznick for fifth all-time
• Ashley Gonzalez is four assists behind Ashley Bruns and Brianna Harris for second all-time

Active Streaks (eight games or better)

• Maggi Hall: points (37)
• Liz Harrison: draw controls (19)
• Danielle Pavinelli: points (17)
• Ashley Gonzalez: points (16)
• Sarah Falk: points (14)
• Elyse Finnelle: saves (10)

Follow the Gators:
#FLax
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook