Emily Heller pitched in a hat-trick in the loss
The Gators were led by Emily Heller, who scored three goals in the match. Maggi Hall and Danielle Pavinelli each had two, with Madison Waters, Sarah Falk, and Paisley Eagan scoring one each. Theresa Bragg recorded the lone assist for the team on the day, with Elyse Finelle recording 11 saves in net. Liz Harrison had a team high nine draw controls, passing Brittany Dashiell for third in program history. Kiley Mottice, Alyssa Long, Caitlyn Wurzburger and Eva Ingrilli all recorded hat-tricks for North Carolina.
Florida played a strong first half. After being down 3-1, the Gators scored four unanswered goals (including a down a player goal) to go up 5-3. They led by as many as three forcing sixer Tar Heel turnovers in the half. The difference was the second half, where Florida got outscored 11-2 and out shot 21-7.
How It Happened
* Florida opened up with great defense, as Bragg caused a turnover leading to Heller finding the back of the net on a heater passed the goalie to put her team up 1-0.
* After nearly four minutes, North Carolina answered as GraceAnn Leonard with a goal of her own to even the score.
* Two straight goals from the Tar Heels put them up 3-1 with 6:44 remaining.
* It took Hall until 3:38 left in the first to get on the board. She converted on two consecutive eight-meter shots to even the score at three.
* The Gators then withstood three free position opportunities from the Tar Heels. After a Finelle save on the first shot, Bragg was given a yellow card putting UF down a player. Following a turnover from North Carolina, Heller earned and converted on a free position shot to put Florida up 4-3 at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
* 49 seconds into the second, Pavinelli dodged to her left ripping it into the top right corner for her first goal of the season, extending the lead to 5-3.
* Following a goal from Long, Bragg took a clear coast-to-coast, setting up Waters for her first goal of the season. The lead was 6-4.
* At the 9:31 mark, a Carolina goal was erased for being offside. A minute and 19 seconds later, Heller finished off another free position shot for her 11th career hat-trick extending the lead to three.
* The Tar Heels responded with two goals of their own, making it a 7-6 game with 4:22 remaining.
* The Gators did not flinch, as Sarah Falk converted on the eight-meter opportunity push the lead back to two.
* With 2:37 left the Tar Heels scored two goals in a 37 second (one free position goal, the other unassisted) to even the score at eight going into halftime.
Third Quarter
* North Carolina scored first out of the break, as Ashley Humphrey found pay dirt with 13:51 left to put the Tar Heels back in front.
* After another Carolina goal, Pavinelli scored on the free position opportunity for her second goal of the afternoon. That cut the deficit to one with 10:10 left in the quarter.
* With 9:23 left and an opportunity to tie the game, Pavinelli moved early on a free position shot to keep the score at 10-9.
* The final 9:23 of the quarter featured great defense leading to only two goals, (both scored by Carolina) giving the Tar Heels a 12-9 lead after three.
* The Gators were out-shot 11-3.
Fourth Quarter
* Carolina opened the scoring in the fourth quarter, as Eva Ingrilli scored to make it a 13-9 game.
* After two more Carolina goals, Paisley Eagan scored her first goal of the season on a free position shot to cut the defecit to 15-10 with 5:37 remaining.
* The Tar Heels scored four straight goals to end the game.
Key Notes
* Heller scored her 11th career hat-trick
* Harrison passes Brittany Dashiell and now sits third all-time in school history in draw controls
* Pavinelli, Eagan, and Waters all scored their first goal of the season
* Bragg recorded her second career assist and tied a career high of three groundballs
* Finelle had a career high 11 saves
* Florida drops the first two games to start a season for the first time in school history
* The Gators have dropped six straight to the Tar Heels and now have a career 3-13 record against them
Active Streaks
* Maggi Hall: points (21), goals (10)
* Sarah Falk: goals (17)
* Madison Waters: points (10)
* Emily Heller: points (9)
Next up
Florida looks to get back into the win column, as they travel to College Park to take on the ninth ranked Maryland Terrapins next Saturday at 12 p.m. on Big Ten Plus.
