GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After missing all of 2014 due to injury, redshirt junior Nicole Graziano looked to be at full strength, setting a career high with six draw controls, in the No. 4 Gators' (0-1) 17-11 season-opening loss to No. 2 North Carolina (2-0) on Saturday at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The loss ended Florida's 23-game regular-season win streak at home.
Despite her team falling short, the midfielder provided a strong and aggressive presence for Florida, adding two goals and two assists to go along with her career-high six draw controls, while scooping up a team-high three ground balls.
After the Tar Heels grabbed an early 2-0 lead, freshman attacker Shayna Pirreca netted her first collegiate goal off an assist from sophomore Carli Marsh to ignite a 3-0 Gators' run. Senior Shannon Gilroy and sophomore Mollie Stevens chipped with goals of their own during the run.
North Carolina went on to score five of the next six goals and entered halftime leading, 7-4.
UNC opened the second-half scoring with a goal at the 28:50 mark to make the score 8-4, but Florida answered and brought the score even with four consecutive goals, including three straight coming from Stevens, who tied a career high with four goals.
With the score locked at nine, North Carolina used a four-goal rally to give itself a 13-9 lead with 14:57 remaining in the contest. The lead proved too much for the Gators, as the closest they got was three goals.
Despite the loss, Florida received strong offensive contributions from Graziano, Stevens and Gilroy (4 goals, 1 assist). Junior goalkeeper Mary-Sean Wilcox made nine saves and added two ground balls.
Record
· Florida – 0-1
· North Carolina – 2-0
Series Update
· Florida dropped to 1-5 all-time against North Carolina with today's loss
· Today was the first-ever meeting in Gainesville between the two schools
Numbers of Note
· Freshman attacker Shayna Pirreca netted her first collegiate goal off an assist from sophomore Carli Marsh at the 8:08 mark in the first half.
· Sophomore Mollie Stevens tied a career high with four goals, coming off of five shots
· Nicole Graziano set a career high with six draw controls, while adding two goals, two assists, four points, three ground balls and two caused turnovers
· Shannon Gilroy tallied four goals and now 186 in career, just three shy of tying Ashley Bruns (2010-13) for second on the program's all-time list with 189
· Dating back to last season, Gilroy has scored a goal in 17-consecutive games, tying Kitty Cullen for fourth-longest in team history
· The 17 goals given up by UF were the most goals allowed since Syracuse scored 17 on March 15, 2014
Mandee's Minute
Head coach Amanda O'Leary
Opening Statement:
“I think you have to credit [North] Carolina. They're a phenomenal team. They have a great coaching staff. They're experienced players, and they compete. I thought we competed and got ourselves back in the game. After the timeout, we came out flat. They started the game with draw controls, and that's kind of the key to the game, those draw controls. They dominated those, so we need to get better in that aspect of the game. Without the ball, you can't score. You set yourself back on the defensive end, and that's a tough place to be.”
On getting Nicole Graziano back from injury:
“She was critical on draw controls. I'm just so happy for her, having a year off with an injury and her coming back and playing so hard and playing so well. This was a great day for Nicole, and I think it's a good start to the season. Certainly if we all could play like that, we'd be in a better place at this moment, but I'm really happy for her. She did a good job for us.”
Up Next
Florida travels to play Jacksonville University (0-0) on Wednesday (Feb. 11) at 7 p.m.
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