No. 5 Gators Breeze Past Owls in Home-Opener

Sunday, February 9

11 a.m.

Florida Gators

2-0

Kennesaw State University

0-2

Kennesaw State

Florida

Clark Hamilton dodges on Feb. 9 against Kennesaw State.

No. 5 Gators Breeze Past Owls in Home-Opener

Sunday, February 9, 2025 | Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

Florida got out to a 13-0 lead, led by Clark Hamilton who scored five goals, becoming the third freshmen in program history to record five or more goals in her home debut.

By: Corey Lichtman

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The fifth-ranked Florida lacrosse team needed only 55 seconds to strike first and used a 13-0 run to start the game, defeating Kennesaw State by a score of 18-5 on Sunday afternoon. The Gators improve to 2-0, while the Owls fall to 0-2.

Eleven different Gators tallied a point, with 10 different goal scorers. Freshman attacker Clark Hamilton scored five goals with four of them coming in the first half, followed by Gianna Monaco who totaled a career high four on the day. Gabby Greene (two), Chiara Scichilone (one), and Ryan Frechette (one) all scored their first collegiate goals, along with Jordan Basso, Gabbi Koury, Frannie Hahn, Cate Isaacson, and Ava Tighe scoring one apiece. Basso and Koury each dished out two assists, combined with one each from Hahn and the first collegiate point from Caylin Luciano. UF outshot the Owls 36-10.

UF dominated in the trenches, winning the ground ball (21-8), caused turnover (12-4) and draw control battles by wide margins. Theresa Bragg tied a career high four ground balls, while her and Monaco caused three turnovers each (career high for Monaco). Riley Zusi and Cali Bishop each won four draw controls, along with Greene who hauled in three.

Georgia Hoey earned her second win of the season and improved to 13-0 in her career, making three saves. Elyse Finnelle and Susan Radebaugh both saw action in the second half.

How It Happened

First Quarter

The Gators struck first for the second time this season, as Hamilton found the back of the net off the feed from Koury to make 1-0 with 14:05 left.
The next 2:15 was scoreless, before three different Gators scored in the next 7:45. Monaco had her initial shot saved, before scooping the ground ball and scoring at the 11:50 mark. 56 seconds later Koury scored off an assist from Basso, before Hahn scored off Koury's second assist of the day to make it 4-0.
Hamilton scored her second of the quarter with 3:16 remaining to give UF a 4-0 lead after one.

Second Quarter

The second quarter was all Gators, outshooting the Owls 13-0 and outscoring them 7-0. Monaco scored three goals, Hamilton scored two, with one each from Basso and Greene to give UF a 12-0 lead heading into half. Hamilton and Monaco had first half hat-tricks, while Greene scored her first career goal.

Third Quarter

Scichilone kicked off the third with her first career goal, followed by two goals from the Owls to make it 13-2 with 5:55 left.
With 4:00 left, Hamilton leveled her fifth goal of the day. The two teams then exchanged goals to end the quarter, as Tighe scored with 46 seconds left to give UF a 15-3 lead heading into the fourth.

Fourth Quarter

The Gators outscored the Owls 3-2 in the fourth quarter, with goals from Greene (assisted by Luciano), Isaacson and a game sealer from Frechette on a free position opportunity to give UF an 18-5 victory. Luciano recorded her first career point on the assist to Greene and Frechette scored the first goal of her career.

Coach O'Leary on getting the win in the season opener…
"Yeah, it's always just special at home. You know, it's nice to put on those white uniforms and step on the field for the first time, whether you're a freshman, senior or a fifth year transfer, I just think it's just a super special feeling. I thought we played really hard. I'm really just pleased with our effort today."

On Freshman Clark Hamilton's five goal effort…
"We knew she was special when we recruited her. She's definitely going beyond all of our expectations, if you will. I think she just brings such a level of explosiveness. She's a sharp shooter. She'll share the ball, she's the whole package. And you know, she's only a freshman, so there's a ton of growth that we're going to see, and it's going to be special."

Key Notes

UF improves to 4-0 all-time against Kennesaw State
They move to 135-23 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium, 12-4 in home openers and have won nine consecutive games at home
Florida is now 27-1 all-time against the Atlantic Sun Conference
Monaco tallied her third career hat-trick
Hamilton becomes the third freshman in program history to record five or more goals in the home opener
Theresa Bragg now has recorded three or more caused turnovers in her last three games
Georgia Hoey improves to 13-0 all-time in goal
Ryann Frechette, Gabby Greene and Chiara Scichilone all earned their first college goals
Caylin Luciano tallied her first career assist
Cali Bishop and Jenny Markey earned their first draw controls as a Gators
12 different Gators recorded a ground ball
Sydney Wilson caused her first career turnover

Career Highs

Clark Hamilton: goals (5)
Gianna Monaco: goals (4), caused turnovers (3)
Riley Zusi: draw controls (4)
Theresa Bragg: ground balls (tied with 4)

Active Streaks

Jordan Basso: points (76), goals (10), assists (9), ground balls (6)
Gianna Monaco: points (19)
Ashley Dyer: ground balls (6)
Theresa Bragg: ground balls (5)

Next Up
The fifth-ranked Gators will be back in action next Saturday at home for a clash with No. 4 North Carolina at 12 p.m. Coverage can be found on ESPN+.

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