Photo Gallery GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Sophomore
Shayna Pirreca put the Gators on her back with three straight goals in just over a minute to knot No. 7 Florida and Michigan at 11-11 with 4:34 remaining in Saturday's Gators-Wolverines clash at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. With 10 seconds on the clock and a free-position attempt, Pirreca dished the ball to junior
Sammi Burgess for the game-winning goal and the 12-11 final in favor of the Orange and Blue.
WATCH: Postgame Interviews & Update |
Florida vs. Michigan Highlights Florida improved to 2-0 on the young season and 3-0 all-time against Michigan with the thrilling finale. Gator athletics went 2-0 against Michigan Saturday after the
No. 1 softball Gators blanked the Wolverines in Tampa. Pirreca finished the afternoon with a career-high six points with four goals and two assists. Burgess and fellow junior
Mollie Stevens each netted three scores to lead the way for the Orange and Blue offensively.
After a back-and-forth affair through the first period and an early second half Stevens goal for the 8-5 Gators lead, a feisty Wolverines squad scored six unanswered goals for an 11-8 advantage. Cue Pirreca's heroics.
On the defensive end, junior
Taylor Bresnahan scooped up a career-tying four ground balls, caused two turnovers and scored in her second straight game. Florida was aggressive with 17 ground balls to Michigan's 11 and senior goalkeeper
Mary-Sean Wilcox moved to 2-0 and added her eighth straight game with at least one save.
THE RECORDSFlorida: 2-0
Michigan: 1-1
NUMBERS OF NOTE O'LEARY ANALYSIS"Michigan played a phenomenal game. I'm really proud of the effort we put in at the end, but credit Michigan with a great game plan. It was a tough win, we gutted it out. We came out with a victory and that's something, at this point, that we'll take. There is a lot to learn from this game and we talked about that afterwards. We need to be a little bit smarter and more mentally prepared moving forward."
SHAYNA SPEAKSOn the last play:"Honestly it was a blur, but when I saw
Sammi Burgess sitting there, there was no one else I would trust more to take that shot. She did an amazing job, she handled the pressure."
On being down early but rallying for the win:"I think it was great because we got to feel what it is like to be down in a game. We got to rally together, we didn't get down on ourselves or frustrated…we were able to build each other up and stay positive through the entire game."
On the importance of spreading the Gators scoring around this season:"It's very important. In years past we would have a go-to player and we'd put the game in their hands almost every single game. It's great this year because the defense doesn't know who is going to get the ball, they don't know who is going to take that last shot. It is a pleasure to play with the best teammates, the best players in the country. I'm so grateful for them."
UP NEXTThe Orange and Blue will continue a three-game home stand to open the 2016 season. Florida will host the Wales National Team in Thursday action Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. for a friendly before its first road trip to No. 2 North Carolina Feb. 20.
Promotions for UF vs. Wales National Team: Gator Kid Captain of the Game, Junior Gator Announcer, Kids Korner & enter to win a Family 4 Pack to Florida Gymnastics vs. LSU February 26.
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