At Elon, N.C., 16th-ranked Florida lacrosse stropped a three-match losing streak with a 15-5 win over Elon on Thursday.
“We really came together for an all-around solid win tonight,” UF coach Amanda O’Leary said. “Our control in the draw circle was fantastic and our defense stepped up and allowed our offense to be successful.”
The Gators (2-3) caused a total of 15 turnovers, including three from Kaitlyn Dabkowski, really controlling the game from the start. The 15 caused turnovers was the fourth-best total in program history.
The squad also held the 17-5 draw control advantage over the Phoenix (2-5) — led by seven from Sabrina Cristodero.
Sydney Pirreca led the Gators’ offensive effort, registering three goals on the night. Lindsey Ronbeck, Brianna Harris and Grace Haus also pitched in two goals apiece to help secure the win.
The Gators held the Phoenix to a .400 shooting clip (5-of-20). Haley Hicklen posted seven saves on the night, notching a (.636) saves percentage.
UF heads down the road to High Point, N.C., to face the Panthers at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Indoor Track and Field: Florida’s men get the chance to defend their title, while the Gators’ women will vie for a second consecutive top-four finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships today and Saturday.
The Gators won the men’s team title in dramatic fashion last year, pulling ahead of the field with a third-place finish in the fastest indoor 4×400 relay race in the sport’s history. A second consecutive indoor national title would give Florida’s men their fifth in program history, which would usurp Oregon for the third-highest total in NCAA Indoors history. It would also mark Florida’s Division I-leading ninth indoor and outdoor national title since head coach Mike Holloway took over in 2003. No other program has won more than five within that span.
Florida’s men, ranked No. 2 nationally, have finished third or higher at 21 of the 32 NCAA Championship meets, including nine of the last 10 indoors, with Holloway as head coach.
Two-time defending 60-meter hurdles champion Grant Holloway will attempt to become the first three-time winner in the event, in addition to being the top seed in the 60 meters and the No. 2 seed in the long jump. No man or woman has ever won three individual titles at NCAA Indoors. Holloway swept the 60 and 60 hurdles crowns, and took second in the long jump two weeks ago at SEC Indoors.
Junior Clayton Brown is another returning scorer for the Gators, as he took fourth in the triple jump last year.
For the No. 6-ranked women’s team, senior Yanis David, fresh off a pair of SEC titles, is the top seed in the triple jump and No. 2 seed in the long jump.
David, along with fellow senior and last year’s fourth-place finisher in the 400 meters, Sharrika Barnett, will lead the Gators’ hunt for a second consecutive top-four finish.
