GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 11th ranked Florida lacrosse team completed their perfect homestand on a high note, defeating Liberty by a score of 23-3 on Wednesday afternoon. Florida moves to 10-2 on the season and 6-0 at home, while Liberty drops to 3-7.
In a game where both teams were trying to beat the inclement weather coming, the Gators went wire-to-wire, leading for all but 25 seconds of this contest. They used a 14-0 start, to the game, while outshooting Liberty 17-2 in the first quarter to propel them to their 10th straight win.
Florida was led by
Maggi Hall offensively, who had seven total points on two goals and five assists. The Gators had 12 other players score, including hat-tricks from
Madison Waters,
Danielle Pavinelli and
Lea Flobeck.
Ashley Gonzalez,
Jackie Norsworthy, and
Josie Hahn scored two each, along with single goals from
Emily Heller,
Gabbi Koury,
Ava Tighe,
Paisley Eagan,
Sarah Falk and
Macy Zaban.
The ball was moving around, as the Gators set a season high in assists with 16. This number also ties a program record, that was set last year on April 22 against Vanderbilt. Eight of Florida's 11 first quarter goals were off an assist, as they were led by Hall with five assists, and Pavinelli with two. Nine other players picked up an assist, as Heller, Gonzalez, Isaacson, Hughes, Koury, Wilson, Tighe, Norsworthy and Eagan all got their names into the box score.
The Gators defense did a tremendous job, holding Liberty to a season low in goals and shooting percentage (.176). Florida totaled 18 ground balls from 15 different players, led by
Brie Catts who had a career high three ground balls. Three goals allowed are the least the team has given up since May 16, 2021 when they allowed three goals to Jacksonville.
Georgia Hoey improved to 10-0 on the season, as
Elyse Finnelle led the team in saves with five.
Liz Harrison continued her domination, as she passed Shannon Kavanagh for the program record in career draw controls in the second quarter. Harrison is now in a league of her own, totaling 359 draw controls and counting. The senior led the charge once again, racking up 14 draw controls on the afternoon, leading the Gators to an 18-9 advantage in that department. Harrison currently has 149 draw controls through 12 games this season.
How It Happened
- The Gators came out on fire, scoring two goals in the first 51 seconds of the game, from Waters and Tighe on assists delivered from Gonzalez and Heller making it 2-0.
- 30 seconds later, Pavinelli found the back of the cage off an assist from Tighe to put the Gators up 3-0.
- After nearly eight minutes went by, off a Hall shot, Hahn scooped the ground ball and scored to put the Gators up four.
- UF then scored seven goals in a five minute and 33 second span, to give them an 11-0 lead after one. Waters had two of those goals, along with one from Pavinelli, Eagan, Koury, Hall, and Hahn who concluded the first quarter scoring with two seconds left off an assist from Hall.
Second Quarter
- It was another solid quarter from the Gators, outscoring the Flames 6-2 in the frame. Hall kicked off the scoring at the 13:55 mark, off an assist from Eagan to make the lead a dozen.
- Off Harrison's record setting 354th career draw control, Gonzalez scored an unassisted goal to make it 13-0.
- Heller joined the action, off the feed from Hall to make it 14-0 with 11:11 left.
- Following two Liberty goals, the Gators closed the quarter with three consecutive scores from the sticks of Gonzalez, Falk and Pavinelli to give Florida a 17-2 halftime lead.
Third Quarter
- Liberty got the scoring going, as Kelly Scott connected 55 seconds into the quarter, cutting the Gators lead to 14.
- At the 3:39 mark, Norsworthy connected on her third score of the season, pushing the lead back to 15.
- With 19 seconds left, a pair of firsts occurred, as Wilson found Zaban for the slick finish making it 19-3. This was Zaban's first career goal, and Wilson's first career assist.
Fourth Quarter
- The fourth quarter was the Lea Flobeck show, as the freshman netted three goals in seven minutes and 39 seconds for her first career hat-trick, making it 22-3.
- With five seconds remaining, the Gators put the icing on the cake, as Hughes found Norsworthy to conclude the 23-3 victory. This was Hughes's first career point.
Coach O'Leary's Insight
"I loved to see how our team came out today. We saw so many good things at both ends of the field, and Liz (Harrison) continues to give us the ball off the draw which is a huge advantage. Overall I am extremely happy with this great team win!"
Key Notes
- Florida moves to 4-0 all-time against Liberty, and win their 14th straight regular season home game
- 23 goals tie a season high, while 16 assists tie a program record
- 17 goals in the first half is the most the Gators have scored in a half since they scored 18 on May 14, 2021 against Mercer
- This is the Gators first 20 goal victory since April 28, 2018 against Cincinnati
- Harrison passed Shannon Kavanagh for first all-time in career draw controls
- Hall has now recorded at least seven points in five games this season
- Pavinelli reached the 250-point milestone today, becoming just the sixth player in program history to achieve that
- Gonzalez now sits fifth all-time in career assists with 79
- Flobeck recorded her first career hat-trick
- Zaban scored her first career goal with 19 seconds left in the third quarter, off Wilson's first career assist
- Hughes registered her first career point on the assist to Norsworthy with five seconds left in the fourth
- Norsworthy had her first multi goal game of her career
Season/Career Highs
Active Streaks (eight games or better)
Next up
No. 11 Florida will be back on the road this weekend, as they had to Nashville to take on AAC counterpart Vanderbilt at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.
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