NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In its first-ever BIG EAST Conference game, No. 6 Florida (7-4, 1-0) defeated Vanderbilt (3-6, 0-1), 19-10, Sunday afternoon at the Vanderbilt Soccer/Lacrosse Complex.
Senior All-American Shannon Gilroy led the way for the Orange & Blue with a career-high nine points on seven goals and two assists, showing why she is regarded as one of the nation's premier players. The Northport, New York, native added eight draw controls, five ground balls and caused a career-high five turnovers.
The Gators used an 8-0 first-half run to put the game out of reach after Vanderbilt had a 2-1 lead. With her team down by a goal, Gilroy ignited the Florida run, finding the back of the net to tie the game at 2-2 with 23:07 on the clock.
During the run, Gilroy single-handedly changed the momentum of the game, forcing four turnovers, winning five draw controls, while scoring two goals and dishing an assist.
Over the next 17 minutes of action, Florida ripped off seven more goals and entered halftime with a 9-4 lead after two late Vanderbilt goals.
Florida exited halftime scoring three-straight goals to build a 12-4 advantage at the 25:37 mark. The closet the Commodores got the rest of the way was six goals.
The UF defense played one of its best games of the year, forcing 17 turnovers – the second-highest total in the history of the program.
In all, nine Gators scored goals, led by Gilroy's seven. Junior goalkeeper Mary-Sean Wilcox made seven saves and improved to 6-4.
Junior defender Sydney DuPree scored her first-career goal on Sunday. (Photo: Daniel Dubois)
Record
- Florida – 7-4 (1-0 BIG EAST)
- Vanderbilt – 3-6 (0-1 BIG EAST)
Series Update
- Florida improved to 5-2 all-time against Vanderbilt and has won the last five games
Numbers of Note
- UF is now 22-5 all-time against conference competition during the regular season and has won 10-straight regular-season conference games
- Head coach Amanda O'Leary won her 250th-career game today, becoming just the eighth NCAA Division I women's lacrosse coach to win 250 career games
- O'Leary currently is 250-90 as a head coach, eighth on the all-time list
- Senior Shannon Gilroy caused a career-high five caused turnovers and tied a career high with five ground balls
- Gilroy tallied season highs on the offensive end as well, tallying nine points (career high) and scoring seven goals, while dishing out two assists
- Sophomore Mollie Stevens netted three goals and has now scored a goal in 15-straight games
- Sophomore Sammi Burgess tied a season high with three goals
- Junior Sydney DuPre scored her first career goal off an assist from Lauren Lea at 28:26 mark in the second half
- Florida forced a season-high 17 turnovers, the second-highest total in program history
- The Orange & Blue tied a program record with 30 ground balls
Mandee's Minute
Head coach Amanda O'Leary
What do you take from this heading into conference play?
“Shannon [Gilroy] had a dominate performance at both ends of the field today. Our attack was able to generate lots of opportunities on goal because every player was unselfish and showed the willingness to work hard in the ride. I was happy with our settled defensive play. Sydney [DuPre] scoring was a highlight for all of the defense. This was a great team win over a very good, well coached Vanderbilt team.”
Up Next
Florida is off for the next five days and returns to action on Saturday (March 28) at Temple (8-1) at 1 p.m.
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