BOULDER, Colo. – The No. 4 Florida lacrosse team (12-2, 3-0 Big 12) remained unbeaten in conference play, defeating Colorado (6-6, 2-1 Big 12) 15-10 on Saturday afternoon.
The Gators did not lead until the 10:32 mark in the third quarter, overcoming an 8-6 deficit with a 6-0 run in the frame to take a four-goal lead. Florida trailed by as many as three goals in the first half, logging its fifth come-from-behind victory of the season.
Six different Gators recorded goals, with all scorers tallying two or more.
Gabbi Koury,
Gianna Monaco and
Ava Tighe each recorded three-goals, while
Jenny Markey,
Jordan Basso and
Josie Hahn each scored two.
Markey led the way with a career high five points, along with a career high three assists.
Frannie Hahn dished out three assists, along with one each from Koury and Basso.
Elyse Finnelle made a season high 11 saves in the cage, improving to 7-0 on the season. It is her third-straight game with a .500 save percentage or better.
Sam Hughes scooped a career high three ground balls, tagged with
Theresa Bragg and
Kaitlyn Davies each logging a team high three caused turnovers.
How It Happened
First Quarter
- The Buffaloes scored two early goals in the first 1:39 of the game to go up 2-0, but Koury answered on a free-position shot at the 8:20 mark to pull the score to 2-1.
- Colorado connected on two more at the 7:46 and 5:52 points, before Koury came down the middle and ripped a fastball past the goalkeeper at the 2:29 mark to make it 4-2 after one.
Second Quarter
- Markey opened up the scoring off an eight-meter shot to pull Florida within 4-3 with 12:09 to play.
- Colorado answered with 7:18 to play to push the lead back to 5-3, but the Gators responded 46 seconds later off a goal from Markey, assisted by Basso to make it 5-4.
- Both teams would score two goals each to end the half, with both Gator goals being scored by Tighe off free-position shots, including a score with 19 seconds to play. UF trailed 7-6 at the break.
Third Quarter
- Colorado connected on a free-position shot 49 seconds into the frame to make it 8-6, before the Gators got two back by the 13:09 mark to tie it at 8-8. Monaco scored the first goal off a feed from Markey on a free-position attempt, followed by Frannie Hahn finding Josie Hahn in front of the crease for the goal.
- UF corralled their first lead of the game with 10:32 to play, as Basso intercepted the pass from Elana Oh on the ride and took the ball in on a breakaway to finish the goal, giving Florida a 9-8 advantage.
- Tighe connected on her third goal of the game via a free-position shot with 9:05 to play, to give UF a 10-8 lead.
- The Gators scored two more at the 7:31 and 6:17 points, first via Monaco off an assist from Markey, followed by a goal from Josie Hahn passed by Frannie Hahn. This concluded a 6-0 run, to push the lead to 12-8.
- Colorado ended the run with a goal at the 5:04 mark, but UF responded with Monaco's third goal of the game, off an assist from Markey, to push the score back to 13-9 with 3:37 remaining.
- The Buffaloes scored a goal with 2:12 remaining, as UF took a 13-10 lead heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
- The Gators outscored the Buffaloes 2-0 in the frame, off goals from Koury and Basso, assisted by Frannie Hahn and Markey. UF took the victory by a 15-10 margin.
Key Notes
- UF improves to 5-0 all-time against Colorado and 2-0 in Boulder
- The Gators improve to 86-7 all-time in conference play
- Florida has won nine consecutive games
- The Gators logged their fifth come-from-behind victory of the season
- Florida has logged a 5-0 run or better in eight games this season
- UF is now 8-0 on the road and have won 17 consecutive true road games
- Frannie Hahn has dished out two or more assists in eight consecutive games
- Monaco has recorded a hat-trick in five consecutive contests and six of the last seven, she now has 10 on the season
- Tighe notched her first career hat-trick, going three-for-three on free-position opportunities
- Koury totaled her second career hat-trick
- Markey nodded career highs in assists and points while winning 24 draw controls in her last eight contests
- Hughes scooped a career high three ground balls in her return to her home state
- Both teams fired off 30 shots, with the Gators having 26 on frame compared to 21 from the Buffaloes
Active Streaks
Next Up
The fourth-ranked Gators will be back at home on Tuesday against in-state opponent Stetson at 6 p.m.
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