Nine different players scored, as Florida used an 8-0 second half run to pull away.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The ninth ranked Florida lacrosse team was victorious on Saturday, defeating No. 14 James Madison by a score of 15-7 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. Florida (13-2, 4-0 AAC) earned their 13th consecutive win, as James Madison (10-4, 3-1 AAC) drops their first conference game of the season.
In a game that was tied 4-4 at halftime, the Gators blitzed the Dukes in the second half, outscoring them 11-3. UF trailed just once for a total of 62 seconds, before they used an 8-0 run from the third quarter into the fourth quarter to create a seven-goal cushion, in route to an eight-goal victory.
It was a balanced offensive attack, as Danielle Pavinelli led the way with five points, on two goals and three assists. Maggi Hall, Ashley Gonzalez, Emily Heller, Josie Hahn and Gianna Monaco all had two goals as well, to go along with single goals each from Paisley Eagan, Sarah Falk and Hannah Heller. It was the 12th straight game that Florida scored at least 15 goals.
UF had nine assists compared to the Dukes three, as Pavinelli and Hall combined for five total assists, with contributions from Hannah Heller, Eagan, Falk and Gonzalez dishing out one assist each.
The Florida defense rose to the occasion today, holding the eighth ranked scoring offense to season lows in goals (seven) and shooting percentage (.259). Elyse Finelle made her impact felt in net, saving a career high 12 shots, on a .632 save percentage. Seven different players caused a turnover, as Emily Heller led the team with two, to go along with one each from Kaitlyn Davies, Theresa Bragg, Lara Kology, Hannah Heller, Hall and Finnelle.
UF won the ground ball battle 14-9, led by Hall who tied a career high with five. Seven different Gators won a draw control, in route to winning 12 as a team today. Sarah Falk led the team with a season high three draw wins, along with two from Emily Heller who hit the 200-draw control milestone.
How It Happened
* After forcing a turnover on the Dukes first possession, the Gators struck first for the 12th time this season, as Gonzalez found Pavinelli to make it 1-0 with 12:37 left.
* The Dukes answered quickly, scoring 15 seconds later, as Isabella Petersen scored her first of four on the day to even the score.
* Possessions were extremely valuable all game, and that tone was set early on, as it took over eight minutes for the next goal to be scored. Hall found Hahn across the middle for the player-up goal putting Florida back in front after one.
Second Quarter
* The teams were held scoreless, until the 11:28 mark in the second quarter when James Madison capitalized on a free-position opportunity to even the score.
* 25 seconds later, the Gators answered, as Falk won a gritty draw control, leading to a Monaco goal from Pavinelli. The Dukes answered, making it 3-3 with 10:19 left in the quarter.
* Goals were at a premium after this point in the frame, as both teams exchanged one goal each, with Pavinelli capitalizing on an open lane to the cage off a pass from Falk, and Madison Epke scoring for the Dukes with 1:41 left before half, to make it 4-4 going into the locker rooms. Neither team led or trailed by more than one goal, as the score was tied four times.
Third Quarter
* Off a turnover from James Madison, Hannah Heller blazed into transition finding Hall for the score to put the Gators back in front 5-4 with 13:45 left.
* At the 12:43 mark, the Dukes answered with two goals in a 12 second span to give them their first and only lead of the afternoon.
* Off a free-position chance, Eagan found Falk near the cage for the equalizer at the 9:18 mark.
* With 5:54 remaining, the Gators went back in front off an eight-meter score from Emily Heller, putting UF in front for good at 7-6.
* Three minutes later, Hall drew shooting space, and scored on the eight-meter shot to give Florida their largest lead at the time heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
* The fourth quarter was all Gators, as they outscored the Dukes 7-1 with six different players finding nylon. The offense got going, as Hall caused a turnover in the attacking third, leading to Gonzalez sniping the bottom right corner to make it a three-goal game.
* Monaco, Hannah Heller and Gonzalez scored three goals in an 86 second span, to widen the lead to six with 7:43 remaining.
* Florida concluded their 8-0 run in style, as Pavinelli dished it out to Emily Heller with the shot clock winding down, where Heller ripped a fastball into the top left corner to make it 13-6 Gators.
* Following a James Madison score, Hahn and Eagan put the game to rest with insurance goals, leading to an impressive 15-7 win.
Coach O’Leary’s Insight
“It is an amazing win. JMU is a phenomenal program, so we knew it was going to be a chess match… I think we shared the ball really well, having a lot of different goal scorers, but our transition I think was a difference maker. Credit our midfielders and our defenders for getting the ball up and out. Credit all the players though, they came out and worked their tails off.”
Key Notes
* The Gators now have an overall record of 3-2 against James Madison. They improve to 74-56 all-time against ranked teams, and 44-21 at home against top-25 opponents
* This was Florida’s 15th consecutive regular season home win, and now own a 133-23 record at Donald R. Dizney Stadium
* Florida only trailed for 62 seconds, with there being six ties in the game as well
* UF has scored 15 goals in 12 consecutive games, and have hit double digits in all 15
* The Gators outshot the Dukes 37-27, while holding them to season lows in goals, and shooting percentage
* Pavinelli moved into fifth all-time in points after her five-point performance today
* Emily Heller became the third player in Florida history to have 100 goals, 100 ground balls and 200 draw controls after her securing her 200th career draw control this afternoon
* Today’s crowd of 755 was the largest of the season
Season/Career Highs
* Elyse Finnelle – career high 12 saves
* Maggi Hall – season high five ground balls
* Sarah Falk – season high three draw controls
Active Streaks (eight games or better)
* Maggi Hall<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/roster/maggi-hall/16408>: points (34)
* Madison Waters<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/roster/madison-waters/16420>: points (23)
* Emily Heller<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/roster/emily-heller/16410>: points (22), goals (17)
* Liz Harrison: draw controls (16)
* Paisley Eagan: points (14)
* Danielle Pavinelli: points (14)
* Ashley Gonzalez: points (13)
* Sarah Falk: points (11)
Next up
The ninth ranked Gators look to keep the momentum going, as they travel up to Ohio to take on AAC counterpart Cincinnati next Saturday at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.
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