Florida scored 13 unanswered goals to earn their fifth straight regular season home opening win
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida lacrosse team put together a very strong outing in their regular season home opener, defeating Jacksonville by a score of 21-4. The Gators improve to 2-2 on the young season, while the Dolphins fall to 1-4.
The Gators had 11 different players find the back of the net in this one. Seniors Danielle Pavinelli and Maggi Hall led the way tonight combining for 15 points. Pavinelli found the back of the net four times, to go along with two assists, while Hall set a career-high of six assists and pitching in three goals. Hall’s six assists ties for second all-time in a game in program history.
Madison Waters stayed hot, pouring in her second straight hat-trick, while Emily Heller, Ava Tighe and Ashley Gonzalez scored two goals apiece, as Gonzalez had a total of four points. Freshman duo Delaney Radin and Lea Flobeck each found the back of the net for the first time in their collegiate careers to go along with one assist each. Paisley Eagan, Josie Hahn, and Gianna Monaco all scored one goal each. Florida converted on 21 of 35 shots (.600 shooting percentage), along with dishing out a season high 13 assists.
Liz Harrison shined again at the center, controlling 11 draws. This was her second straight game with double-digit draw controls as she sits just 57 shy of 300 for her career. Georgia Hoey earned another win in net, stopping nine Dolphins shots, along with Elyse Finnelle securing two saves.
Coach O’Leary’s Insight
“This was a great team win. A lot of preparation went into this game, and I thought every player executed the game plan. We saw a lot of great things today on the offensive and defensive end, giving us great momentum going into our game against Arizona State.”
How It Happened
* Just over two minutes into the game, the Gators struck first for the fourth time this season, as Pavinelli found Gonzalez for the smooth finish to give Florida a 1-0 lead.
* 58 seconds later, Waters continued her momentum, converting on an eight-meter shot to make it a 2-0 game.
* Jacksonville showed some fight, as Jenna Peed found the back of the net to cut the Gators lead to one.
* Florida answered back quick, scoring two goals in a 52 second span, one from Hall delivered by Eagan, and the other on a Heller free position shot to push the lead to three.
* After a Mackenzie Boyle goal, Monaco struck back with a free position shot making it 5-2 Gators.
* With 17 seconds left, the Hall to Pavinelli connection was in full effect, with Hall finding a cutting Pavinelli for the showtime behind the back finish to make it 6-2 after one.
Second Quarter
* The Pavinelli show continued, as she scored back-to-back to goals with assists from Gonzalez and Hall to open the lead up to 8-2. This was her 23rd career hat-trick.
* After a scoreless streak of nearly seven and a half minutes, Pavinelli found Gonzalez for her second goal of the evening to push the lead to 9-2.
* With 1:57 left, a Hall free position shot, completed a dominant second quarter as the Gators outscored Jacksonville 4-0 in the second to give them a 10-2 lead going into half.
Third Quarter
* The third quarter was all Gators. 33 seconds into the frame, Waters connected on a free position opportunity to make it 11-2.
* 24 seconds later, Hahn joined the frenzy, converting on a score dished out by Hall.
* Hall scored her third goal of the game at the 12:30 mark, assisted from Gonzalez. Hall’s 18th hat-trick of her career pushed the lead to 11.
* With 10:44 left, Florida scored three more goals within a period of just under five minutes. Pavinelli, and Eagan scored off assists from Hall and Heller converted on a free position to push the lead to 14-2.
* Waters capped off an overall 13-0 run from the Gators in style, finding the back of the cage on her behind the back shot with an assist from Hall. Florida led 17-2 after three.
Fourth Quarter
* After a Dolphins goal, Radin followed with an unassisted rip of her own to make it 18-3. Her first career goal.
* Tighe found the back of the cage twice, along with Flobeck sealing the deal, converting on an eight-meter opportunity with 36 seconds left to give the freshman her first career goal.
Key Notes
* A 17-goal victory is the largest margin of victory in a regular season home opener
* Florida moves to 15-1 all-time against Jacksonville, including 9-0 at home
* Hall’s six assists puts her into sole possession of third all-time in assists
* Pavinelli sits eighth in points, and seventh in goals all-time after her six-point performance
* 11 players scored a goal, along with Radin and Flobeck securing their first of their careers
* Gonzalez scored her first goal of the season
* Nine saves were a career high for Hoey
Active Streaks
* Maggi Hall<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/roster/maggi-hall/16408>: points (23), goals (12)
* Madison Waters<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/roster/madison-waters/16420>: points (12)
* Emily Heller<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-lacrosse/roster/emily-heller/16410>: points (11)
Next up
The Gators take their talents out west for a three-game road trip in Arizona and California. They play next at Arizona State on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET and 11 a.m. MST. The game will be streamed on Pac-12 Plus.
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