Clark Hamilton led the way with six points, as Hamilton, Jordan Basso, Kaitlyn Davies, Frannie Hahn and Gianna Monaco combined for 21 of the teams 23 points in the 15-9 win.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 9 Florida lacrosse team (4-2, 0-0 Big 12) used an early 5-0 run in the first half to create all the separation they needed to get the 15-9 victory over No. 15 Loyola (4-3, 1-0 Patriot) on Saturday afternoon.
The Gators maintained a lead for 54:33 of the game, leading by as many as seven goals in the second half.
UF had five players combine for 21 of the teams 23 points, led by Clark Hamilton, who recorded four goals and two assists. Kaitlyn Davies and Frannie Hahn each logged three goals and an assist each, along with three goals from Gianna Monaco. Jordan Basso was the main facilitator, dishing out four assists, while Gabby Greene and Jenny Markey each recorded a goal.
Despite losing the draw battle 20-8, the Gators had a season low eight turnovers, opposed to 16 from the Greyhounds. They also won the ground balls battle 19-11 and the caused turnovers battle 8-4. 12 different players recorded a ground ball, led by two each from Basso, Davies, Markey, Monaco and Ashley Dyer. Eight different Gators caused a turnover, led by Celeste Forte with two.
Elyse Finnelle recorded her first win of the season, tying a season high eight saves, stopping 50 percent of the shots she saw.
How It Happened
* UF opened up the scoring for the fifth time this season as Monaco weaved her way towards the cage and finished, giving UF a 1-0 lead with 11:24 remaining. Loyola answered with 9:22 to play, as Chase Boyle scored one of her six on the day to tie it at 1-1.
* Florida used a 4-0 run in the final 9:22 to end the quarter, started by Gabby Greene who tallied her fourth goal of the season at the 7:13 mark. At the 3:41 point, Frannie Hahn and Davies scored two goals in a 37 second span to push the lead to 4-1. Hamilton concluded the first quarter scoring with 36 seconds left, to give UF a 5-1 lead after one.
Second Quarter
* With 12:08 left, The Gators concluded a 5-0 run off a Frannie Hahn goal from Davies, giving Florida a 6-1 lead.
* Loyola answered 50 seconds later, before Hamilton connected on a goal with 6:33 to play, giving Florida a 7-2 lead.
* Boyle scored for Loyola with 5:11 remaining, before Monaco scored a man-up goal off the feed from Basso to give the Gators an 8-3 lead with 1:53 to play. Loyola scored 46 seconds later, as the Gators took an 8-4 lead going into half.
Third Quarter
* Loyola was able to score the first two goals of the quarter, getting the lead down to just 8-6 with 12:19 to play.
* Two was the lowest the lead would get, as UF used a 3-0 run in the final 12:19 to end the quarter up 11-6. Markey connected on a free-position goal with 10:50 to play before Basso dished out two goals to Hamilton (9:07), and Monaco (4:27) to end the frame.
Fourth Quarter
* The Gators concluded their second 5-0 run of the game, courtesy of Davies connecting on two goals in the first 3:31 of the quarter, to give UF its largest lead of the day at 13-6.
* Loyola responded with two goals, before Frannie Hahn scored off an assist from Hamilton, followed by Hamilton scoring the dagger with 1:32 to play off the feed from Basso, giving the Gators a 15-8 lead.
* Loyola was able to score a late goal with 30 seconds remaining, giving Florida a 15-9 victory.
Key Notes
* The Gators improve to 8-4 all-time against Loyola and 6-1 at home against the Greyhounds
* Florida improves to 136-24 all-time at Donald R. Dizney Stadium and 13-6 against the Patriot League
* Hamilton recorded her fourth career and third straight hat-trick, along with her first career collegiate assist
* Frannie Hahn totaled her second career hat-trick and her fourth game of four or more points on the season, while making her first career start and totaling her first career draw control
* Davies logged her third career hat-trick, earning a career high four points
* Monaco corralled her seventh career hat-trick and fourth of the season
* Basso logged season highs in points and assists with four
* Finnelle made her first start of the season, now with 16 saves over the last two games
* It is the second time this season four Gators have recorded hat-tricks in the same game
* UF outshot the Greyhounds 34-23 and 27-18 with shots on goal
* The Gators improve to 2-2 on the season against ranked opponents, with it being their first one at home since April 13, 2024 against James Madison
Career Highs
* Clark Hamilton: points (6), assists (2)
* Kaitlyn Davies: points (4)
Active Streaks (five or more)
* Jordan Basso: points (80), assists (12)
* Gianna Monaco: points (23), goals (8)
* Theresa Bragg: caused turnovers (7)
* Frannie Hahn: points (6), assists (6)
* Josie Hahn: ground balls (6)
* Riley Zusi: draw controls (6)
Next Up
The ninth-ranked Gators will be back in action on Wednesday at home against No. 19 Navy at 1 p.m. Coverage can be found on ESPN+.
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