The two teams are currently second and third in the league with three games left to play.
Game Notes
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The ninth-ranked Florida lacrosse team (10-3, 2-1 AAC) is set to host the East Carolina Pirates (10-4, 3-0 AAC) in a pivotal conference matchup between two of the top three teams in the league.
Opening draw is slated for 12 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium and fans that cannot be in attendance can watch the game on ESPN+ with Sean Salisbury and Shailey Klein on the call.
No. 9 Florida vs. East Carolina Live Steam
This is the sixth meeting between the Gators and the Pirates, with Florida leading the series 5-0, including 3-0 against East Carolina in Gainesville, Fla.
Florida has held ECU to an average of 7.4 goals per game, including a four-goal outing on April 30, 2022 in Greenville, N.C. Meanwhile, the Gators are averaging 18.6 goals per game in the five contests, with the series-high 20 goals coming twice - once in the 2019 campaign and once in the 2021 matchup.
In UF's last contest, they topped the Liberty Flames 16-7 in Lynchburg, Va., while ECU is coming off a 12-9 loss to No. 5 North Carolina on Tuesday.
Promotions
- Saturday's game will serve as Florida's Unity Game
- Giveaway: The first 300 fans to arrive at The Diz will receive a All Together Gators tank top
- Hammock seating on a first come, first serve basis in the palm trees near the front gate
100-Club
- The Gators have two athletes on the cusp of entering the 100-point club this season after three players have already hit the mark in the 2023 campaign
- Paisley Eagan is at 93 career points, with 90 of them coming while she has donned the Orange & Blue (one point at Boston College prior to transferring)
- Emily Heller is currently at 90 career points to round out the Gators on a quest to hit the milestone
Florida in the AAC
- Through 13 games in the 2023 season, the Gators are ranked in the Top-5 in the league in eight categories:
- Points per game (1st | 22.46)
- Goals per game (1st | 15.23)
- Assists per game (1st | 7.23)
- Saves per game (1st | 11.15)
- Draw controls per game (1st | 15.77)
- Save percentage (2nd | .529)
- Shot percentage (2nd | .504)
- Caused turnovers per game (3rd | 8.62)
- The following Gators are ranked in the Top-15 in the conference:
- Emma LoPinto
- Goals per game:3rd | 3.08
- Points per game: 3rd | 4.38
- Assists per game: 5th | 1.31
- Shots per game: 6th | 5.31
- Maggi Hall
- Goals per game: 9th | 2.08
- Points per game: 8th | 3.00
- Assists per game: 12th | 0.92
- Ashley Gonzalez
- Assists per game: 3rd | 1.46
- Danielle Pavinelli
- Goals per game: 9th | 2.08
- Assists per game: 12th | 0.92
- Points per game: 8th | 3.00
- Shots per game: 7th | 4.85
- Emily Heller
- Goals per game: 11th | 2.00
- Shots per game: 15th | 3.54
- Groundballs per game: 7th | 2.31
- Caused turnovers per game: 11th | 1.08
- Draw controls per game: 12th | 2.77
- Liz Harrison
- Draw controls per game: 4th | 4.92
- Emily Diaz
- Draw controls per game: 8th | 3.46
- Sarah Reznick
- Save percentage: 1st | .521
- Saves per game: 1st | 9.46
- Goals against average: 3rd | 10.33
- Groundballs per game: 11th | 1.85
Scouting the Pirates
- East Carolina comes into Saturday's game with a 10-4 record overall and a perfect 3-0 record in conference play
- Frances Kimel leads the way offensively with 65 points (37g, 28a), followed by Erin Gulden's 32 points (20g, 12a) and Leah Bestany's 31 points (26g, 5a). Ellie Bromley (22g, 8a), Sophia LoCicero (25g, 2a), Camryn Pennypacker (22g, 1a), Emily Stratton (11g, 8a) and Sophie Patton (10g, 1a) have reach recorded over 10 points throughout the season thus far
- Flynn Reed is well in control of the draw circle for the Pirates, coming up with 74 draw controls in 14 games. Sydney Frank has the next closest with 26
- Defensively, East Carolina has totaled 95 caused turnovers, led by 23 from Alexandra Giacolone. Sydney Frank is the only other Pirate with more than 10 CTs, as she sits at 19 on the year
- Seven East Carolina players have tallied at least 10 groundballs this season: Alexandra Giacolone (39), Sydney Frank (31), Summer Morrison (22), Maddie Kercher (21), Camryn Pennypacker (13), Sophia LoCicero (11), Caroline Meininger (10)
- In the cage, Brynn Knight has seen a majority of minutes, earning all 10 wins. She has posted 119 saves with a .509 save percentage, putting her in the Top-10 in the nation in that category
Florida vs. East Carolina Statistical Comparison
| Florida (13 games) |
< |="">>>> |
ECU (14 games) |
| 198 |
Goals |
190 |
| 94 |
Assists |
71 |
| 205 |
Draw Controls |
180 |
| 193 |
Groundballs |
209 |
| 112 |
Caused Turnovers |
95 |
| 393 |
Shots |
376 |
| 310 |
Shots on Goal |
284 |
| .504 |
Shot Percentage |
.505 |
| 145 |
Saves |
125 |
| .529 |
Save Percentage |
.510 |
Quick Facts
- Gators head coach Amanda O'Leary is the 6th winningest active Division I coach with her .756 winning percentage in 28 seasons (375-121, .756). O'Leary has the 3rd most wins of active Division I coaches with 373 wins. O'Leary is 213-56 (.792) all-time at the University of Florida
- Florida owns an impressive 123-22 (.848) record in the confines of Donald R. Dizney Stadium
- When scoring at least 14 goals, the Gators are 175-2 (.989) in program history
- Streaking: Sarah Reznick has recorded a save in 64-straight games, a new program record
- Streaking: Danielle Pavinelli has registered a point in 38-straight games and a goal in 36-straight games (third-longest streak)
- Streaking: Emily Heller had recorded a draw control in 36-straight games, tied for the second-longest streak in program history
No. 9 Florida vs. East Carolina Broadcast Information
Time & Date: Saturday, April 15 | 12 p.m.
Live Stream: ESPN+ ($)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Series Information – No. 9 Florida vs. East Carolina
Pirates | 2023 season: 10-4, 3-0 AAC
- This is the sixth meeting between the Gators and the Pirates
- Florida leads series 5-0
- Home: 3-0 | Away: 2-0 | Neutral: 0-0
- Last Meeting: May 5, 2022 | Greenville, N.C. | AAC Semifinal | W, 18-7
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