Gators, Nittany Lions Tilt Sunday for Trip to NCAA Quarterfinals

Sunday, May 15

Gainesville, FL

1 PM

Florida Gators

Penn State

No. 2 Seed Florida will look to improve to a program-best 19-1 Sunday against Penn State in the NCAA Second Round.

Gators, Nittany Lions Tilt Sunday for Trip to NCAA Quarterfinals

Saturday, May 14, 2016 | Lacrosse

Opening draw between Florida and Penn State is 1 p.m. at The Diz.

By: Kelly Sobers

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Sixteen teams remain in the 2016 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship, and the No. 2 Gators and No. 11 Nittany Lions will battle Sunday to be one of eight standing following NCAA Second Round action.

Penn State (12-6) advanced out of the NCAA First Round Friday in Gainesville after defeating Winthrop, 16-6, while the No. 2 seed Gators (18-1) earned a first-round bye. The Gators and Nittany Lions will clash at 1 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium with a berth in the NCAA Quarterfinals -- Elite 8 -- up for grabs. Florida will look for its 10th consecutive win and fifth quarterfinals appearance -- the Orange and Blue advanced to the quarterfinals in 2011, 2013 & 2014, and all the way to the Final Four in 2012.

GAME NOTES | NCAA INTERACTIVE BRACKET

The Gators, 6-1 against IWLCA top-20 foes thus far in 2016, will take on their eighth ranked opponent in No. 11 PSU. Of note, the Gators defeated Penn State 15-2 in 2012 NCAA Quarterfinal action to advance to the Semifinals that year. Since falling to the No. 1 team in the land March 19, Florida's only blemish on the 2016 schedule, the Gators are riding a nine-game win streak into Sunday's clash with the Nittany Lions. Florida went a perfect 7-0 in BIG EAST play, then swept through the conference tournament to win both the regular season and tourney titles, their sixth and fourth, respectively.

Florida is 5-1 all-time against Penn State, including a perfect 4-0 at home.

The Gators own the best 19-game record in school history, are a win away from a program-record 19 wins (went 19-3 in 2012) and are 6-5 all-time in NCAA Tournament play under head coach Amanda O'Leary.

After the NCAA First Round, Florida ranks No. 4 in the country in win percentage (.947), No. 7 in scoring margin (6.26/g), No. 8 in save percentage (.502), No. 9 in scoring offense (13.37/g), No. 10 in scoring defense (7.11/g), No. 13 in points per game (19.00/g), No. 17 in assists per game (5.63/g), 21st in free-position percentage (.467) and 22nd in ground balls per game (18.37/g)
The Gators boast the BIG EAST Most Outstanding Player (Nicole Graziano), Midfielder of Year (Graziano), Co-Attacker of Year (Sammi Burgess), Defensive Player of Year (Caroline Fitzgerald), Freshman of Year (Lindsey Ronbeck) and Co-Coaching Staff of the Year. Florida had seven players named all-conference and has two Tewaaraton Award Top-25 Nominees in Graziano and Fitzgerald
Just Friday, six Gators were named IWLCA All-South Region, including four First Team selections in Graziano, Burgess, Taylor Bresnahan and Fitzgerald. Ronbeck and sophomore Shayna Pirreca were Second Team selections
Five players were named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team last week in Washington, DC, including MOP Graziano, Burgess, Lauren Lea and a pair of freshmen in Sydney Pirreca and Haley Hicklen

BROADCAST INFORMATION | Info on Gainesville First & Second Rounds

LIVE STREAM
AUDIO STREAM
RADIO: ESPN GAINESVILLE

TICKET INFORMATION
Sunday NCAA Second Round Tickets
Adults: $5
Seniors & Children: $3
Students with a Gator1 ID: FREE

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