GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 13th ranked Florida lacrosse team looks to keep the momentum rolling, as they host the Mercer Bears on Saturday afternoon. First draw is slated for 12 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Sean Salisbury on the call.
Tomorrow's theme is Lacrosse Out Cancer, which aims to raise critically needed funding for pediatric cancer research. Florida lacrosse has accepted the LaCROSSe Out Cancer Challenge, with plans to increase visibility about pediatric cancer research support.
This is the fifth career meeting between these two teams, with UF winning all four previous matchups by at least seven goals. Florida won last years game by a score of 15-6 on the road, as
Kaitlyn Davies led the way with three goals. The Gators have scored at least 15 goals in every match against the Bears, including outscoring them by a total 76-28 margin in their four meetings.
The Gators have won six games in a row, currently sitting at 6-2 on the year. They are coming off their second win of the season against a ranked opponent, defeating No. 21 Princeton 16-13 on Wednesday afternoon.
Ashley Gonzalez and
Danielle Pavinelli each had five points in the win, in a game that they never trailed in. It was their first career victory over the Tigers. Overall this season, Florida is led by
Maggi Hall who has 40 points, with 15 goals and 25 assists.
Outlook on the Bears
Mercer comes into this game with a 3-3 record, following a loss at Vanderbilt by a score of 13-9 on Wednesday. The Bears have four players with at least 14 goals this season, led by Senior Gabby Divirgilio who leads the team in goals (17) and assists (12).
The Bears are in their 10th season as a program, with an overall record 90-68. They are coming off of a record setting 17-win season, and have made the NCAA Tournament five years in a row. Mercer is currently coached by Samantha Eustace who is in her ninth season, leading the Bears to an 85-59 record during that time.
Offensive Juggernauts
This matchup features two teams in the top-15 nationally in scoring offense, with Mercer ranked 15th, averaging 15.50 goals per game, and Florida ranked seventh, scoring 17.00 goals per game. The Gators are averaging 20.60 goals per game over their last five, and the Bears had the second most goals in a game this season when they scored 24 against Coastal Carolina.
Gators Like to Draw
Florida has been on a tear lately, winning 73 of 91 total draw controls (80.2 percent) over the last three games, while setting a program record with 26 on Wednesday.
Liz Harrison is first in the country in draw controls (89), averaging 11.12 per game. As a team, UF sits second in the country in draw controls per game (18.12) and 14th in draw control percentage (.614).
Key Notes
- In the last six games, Florida has had at least seven different goal scorers
- Gianna Monaco has three hat-tricks in her last four games
- Madison Waters leads the team in hat-tricks with four
- Florida has won 10 straight regular season games in Gainesville, and has an overall home record of 128-23
- Georgia Hoey holds a 6-0 record on the season
- Gabbi Koury will face off against her sister Maddi Koury
Milestone Watching
- Madison Waters sits two points shy of 100 career points
- Maggi Hall is two assists away from 100 career assists
- Emily Heller is six draw controls away from 200 career draw controls
- Liz Harrison is one draw control away from 300 career draw controls, and needs five more to pass Shannon Gilroy for second all-time
- Amanda O'Leary is 12 wins away from 400 career wins
- Ashley Gonzalez is six assists away from passing Shannon Kavanagh for fifth all-time
Active Streaks
Watch No. 13 Florida take on Mercer
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