GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Senior Shannon Gilroy scored a team-leading eight points on six goals and two assists, eclipsing 200 career goals, in No. 4 Florida's (4-1) 18-10 victory over Dartmouth (0-2) at Donald R. Dizney Stadium on Saturday. With her six goals, Gilroy now has 202 career scores, just two shy of becoming the programs all-time leading goal scorer.
With the score tied 2-2 at the 26:31 mark in the first half, the senior midfielder ignited an 11-0 gator run, scoring five goals in the first half to propel the Gators to a 13-3 halftime lead.
The Gators used a swarming defense in the first half that forced nine turnovers to offset Dartmouth controlling 12 of the 17 draws. The defense, led by sophomores Caroline Fitzgerald and Taylor Bresnahan (three caused turnovers each) allowed the Gator offense to gain a number of fast-break chances and outshot Dartmouth, 17-7.
Florida scored only five goals in the second half, but its 10-goal halftime advantage proved too much for the visiting team as the closest Dartmouth got the rest of the way was eight goals.
UF finished the game causing 11 turnovers, a new season high, while only turning the ball over five times. The Orange & Blue also capitalized on its free-position attempts, going six-for-seven from the eight-meter line.
In all, eight Gators scored goals, led by Gilroy's six scores. Junior goalkeeper and reigning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week Mary-Sean Wilcox improved to 4-1 on the year, making three saves.
Record
· Florida – 4-1
· Dartmouth – 0-2
Series Update
· Florida improved to 4-0 all-time vs. Dartmouth and 6-0 against teams from the Ivy League
Numbers of Note
· In its four wins this season, Florida has outscored its opponents, 75-25
· Senior Shannon Gilroy tallied season-highs in goals (six) and points (eight) and tacked on two assists
· Gilroy became the second-ever Gator to score 200 career goals when she netted her fourth tally of the game off an assist from freshman Shayna Pirreca at 10:17 mark in the first half
· Gilroy's six goals give her 202 in her career, just two shy of becoming UF's all-time leading goal scorer. Kitty Cullen (2010-13) holds the all-time mark with 203
· Sophomore Lauren Lea recorded one assist giving her 25 in her career. She added two goals, her first multi-goal game of the season and finished with three points
· Lea also scooped up a season-high four ground balls
· Sophomore Mollie Stevens finished the game with two goals and eclipsed 50 points in her career
· Sophomore defenders Carolina Fitzgerald and Taylor Bresnahan each forced a season-high three turnovers
· Junior attack Devon Schneider finished with a season high in goals (two)
· Senior Nora Barry had season-highs in points (five) and assists (two) and tied a season-best with three goals.
Mandee's Minute
Head coach Amanda O'Leary
On sophomore Caroline Fitzgerald's impact on defense:
“Caroline is always picking up the team's best attacker, so that's kind of what we've designated her to do and she's stepped up every game that we've asked her to do that. I think what makes Caroline such a good defender is her footwork. She can run with anybody. I think sometimes her patience gets the best of her, but for the most part I was really proud of her effort today. I thought she held well and did a good job in the one-v-ones.”
On scoring 11 unanswered goals in the first half:
“I thought our offense was just clicking. We were getting draw controls, which is obviously the key to the game. If we're in possession, we're going to be able to score. If we don't, we're going to be on our heels defensively. I thought we distributed the ball really, really well. A lot of those goals were assisted goals, which was nice to see. I saw some unselfish play out of our offense. We had a great first half.”
On Florida's struggles in the second half:
“I thought the draw controls were the key there. We lost a bunch of draw controls, which for us, those 50-50 balls are what we've tried to work on, and I thought we got beat by a stronger, grittier team on those draw controls in the second half. Dartmouth seemed to want it more. They were sending two and three to the ball; we were sending one. I credit Dartmouth. They came out in the second half and played hard. I give them all the credit in the world. I thought they competed, and we didn't respond.”
Up Next
Florida hosts No. 14 Loyola (Md.) (1-1) on Tuesday (March 3) at 1:00 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium
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