No. 2 Gators Open BIG EAST Play With 16-2 Win Over Vandy

Saturday, March 26

Gainesville, FL

12:00 PM

Florida Gators

10-1

Vanderbilt

4-6

Vanderbilt

Florida

Sophomore Allie Pavinelli scored a career-high three goals Saturday against Vanderbilt

No. 2 Gators Open BIG EAST Play With 16-2 Win Over Vandy

Saturday, March 26, 2016 | Lacrosse

Box Score

Florida improved to 10-1 overall on the season, 1-0 in league play.

By: Kelly Sobers

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The No. 2 Florida lacrosse team kicked off its BIG EAST slate Saturday at Donald R. Dizney Stadium with a 16-2 win over Vanderbilt to improve 10-1 on the season, 1-0 in league play. Nine Gators scored and UF's defense shined, holding Vandy (4-6) to a season-low two goals on a drizzly day at The Diz.

Offensively, the Gators came out attacking early and often. Florida took a season-high 37 shots Saturday -- including 22 in the first period -- to keep Vandy goalkeeper Callahan Kent on her heels. On the defensive front, the Orange and Blue held Vanderbilt to a season-low two goals, and forced 16 turnovers -- including two caused by junior Taylor Bresnahan. Bresnahan also made her presence known with a speedy fast break to goal for Florida's seventh game this season with a defensive score.

Saturday's victory gave the Gators their sixth straight against the Dores as UF improved to 3-1 at home against Vandy.

It was a similar story for both teams in each half -- Florida with eight goals, Vandy with one in both the first and second. Sophomore Allie Pavinelli collected a career high three goals, while senior Nicole Graziano kept her hot streak going with a season best five goals and six points. Junior Sammi Burgess extended her point streak to 15 straight games with a point, three straight with at least one assist.

In goal for Florida, the senior veteran Mary-Sean Wilcox and freshman Haley Hicklen held it down 30 minutes apiece, Hicklen denying a season-high six on the afternoon.

Florida found the back of the net on five of 10 free-position shots, including a perfect three-for-three from Graziano. The Gators got out to a 3-0 lead before the Dores first countered with a Kelly Chandler goal at the 18:56 mark in the first. UF then went on an eight-goal run to take solid control of the game. Julie Blaze accounted for Vandy's goal in the second period with 25:31 remaining in the game.

THE RECORDS
No. 2 Florida: 10-1
Vanderbilt: 4-6

NUMBERS OF NOTE

66: all-time wins for the Gators at home in Donald R. Dizney Stadium
37: shots for Florida, a season high, compared to just 16 for Vandy
23: ground balls for Florida compared to Vanderbilt's 14
15: consecutive games with a point for junior Sammi Burgess, who assisted Nicole Graziano on her fourth goal of the game with 26:52 remaining in the second
7: games with a defensive goal for the Gators as junior Taylor Bresnahan took her fourth of the season to goal with 8:29 remaining in the first period
6: wins all-time for Florida against Vanderbilt. The Gators are now 6-2 against the Dores, including a 3-1 record at home with Saturday's victory
6: saves for freshman Haley Hicklen in 30 minutes of play in the cage -- a new career high
5: ground balls for junior defender Caroline Fitzgerald to tie her season high. Fitzgerald also battled for a team-tying two draw controls and caused one turnover against the Commodores
3: Gators with a multiple-goal outing against the Dores: Nicole Graziano (5), Allie Pavinelli (3), Shayna Pirreca (2)
1: more game in Florida's five-game home stand. Florida hosts Temple April 2 at noon before heading to Georgetown April 9

O'LEARY ANALYSIS
"I'm really, really happy coming out of here with a win against a very good lacrosse team in Vanderbilt. They are very-well coached. They are aggressive and play hard, and I thought our team matched that and played to the best of our ability. Offensively this week, we talked about the value of possession. I thought we came out here and generated a lot of shots, which was great and something we didn't do against Maryland. Defensively, we were solid. Our defensive unit played great and shut down a high-powered offense in Vanderbilt. Very proud of our defense and our goalies -- I thought they all played really well."

UP NEXT
The Gators have one more home game against Temple (4/2) to wrap up a five-game home stand before hitting the road to Washington, D.C., for a conference clash at Georgetown April 9. Florida will play three of its last five conference games on the road.

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