Freshmen Nicole
Graziano (Mendham, N.J.), Nora
Barry (Marcellus, N.Y.) and Taylor
McCord (Jacksonville, Fla.) combined for
17 points this evening to lead the No. 4 Florida Gators to their highest goal
total and first-ever shutout, defeating Fresno State, 29-0. With the win,
Florida improves to 11-2 (1-0 ALC), while the Bulldogs fall to 2-6 (0-1 MPSF).
“It was
really about people who haven’t needed to step up really needing to today, and
I thought they did that,” said Head Coach Amanda O’Leary. “Obviously, Nicole Graziano did a great job. It was fun to see Nora play on the
attacking end and only on the attacking end, but defensively I thought we
played really well. I thought Mikey
Meagher (Liverpool, N.Y.) came up with
some big ground balls in the first half to get us jump started in
transition. I’m just really
pleased overall.”
Nicole
Graziano led the team with a career-high six goals and seven points and notched
two ground balls and a team-best four draw controls. ALC Rookie of the Week
Nora Barry scored five goals, four ground balls and two draw controls, and
fellow-freshman Taylor McCord had a personal-best four goals and an assist. Gabi
Wiegand (Bay Shore, N.Y.) also had five
points, scoring three goals and two assists.
Ashley
Bruns (Ellicott City, Md.) became the
first Gator in school history to record 200 career points on a goal late in the
first half, and finished the night with three goals and an assist. Caroline
Chesterman (South Nyack, N.Y.) hit the
century mark in points tonight, ending with a goal and a team-leading three
assists.
