Senior
attack Ashley Bruns (Ellicott City, Md.) tied a career and program
single-game high eight goals as No. 3 Florida bested Vanderbilt, 21-10, in ALC
action at Vanderbilt Soccer/Lacrosse Complex on Sunday afternoon.
UF
(15-1, 3-1 ALC) tied a season-high 21 goals backed by Bruns who combined with
five other teammates for multiple goals in the win. Senior attack Gabi
Wiegand (Bay Shore, N.Y.) produced a hat trick while seniors Brittany
Dashiell (Bel Air, Md.) and Kitty Cullen (Rockville, Md.) along with
sophomores Nora Barry (Marcellus, N.Y.) and Nicole Graziano (Mendham,
N.J.) all scored two goals apiece. In all, eight Gators scored in the win,
helping their team to the second-largest goal total of the season. Florida
scored a season-high 22 in a win over Stetson on March 19.
“Ashley
played a really great game and was able to create some shots for us that kept
us ahead in the first half,” Head coach Amanda O’Leary said. “Overall, I
felt our offense stepped up when we needed it to.”
Dashiell
recorded a career-high seven draws as Florida recorded 15 in the contest while
winning ground balls 28-16. She also recorded a game-high two assists while
senior defenders Emily Dohony (Parkton, Md.) and Kayla Stolins (Glen
Arm, Md.) each scooped up four ground balls.
The
offense also produced 40 shots in the contest, for the most in a game this
season and fourth-highest single game total in program history. Florida was
also efficient on defense, recording a 14-of-15 clears on the day and held
Vanderbilt to 18 shots.
Bruns
was extremely proficient on the afternoon, going 8-for-9 while also recording
two ground balls and scored five of her goals in the first half. She previously
scored eight goals against Siena last season where she also set the school
record for points with 11.
UF
came out on fire in the second half after holding a three-goal lead at the
break, scoring the first five goals to take a 16-8 lead before Vanderbilt
scored with 20:40 to play. The Orange and Blue held solid on defense as it held
the ‘Dores scoreless for the final 17:20 of the second half and close the game
on a 5-0 run.
Florida
outscored Vanderbilt (2-13, 0-5 ALC), 10-2, in the final frame to seal their 15th
win of the season.
Cullen
got things started for the Gators with a goal a minute and ten seconds into the
game. Vanderbilt marched down the field to knot the score up at 1-1 on an
Ashlin Dolan score 30 seconds later. Vanderbilt took a 2-1 lead about three
minutes later on an Abby Wheeler score but Bruns would throw in back-to-back
goals helping Florida to a 3-2 lead with 21:45 to play.
The
‘Dores worked quickly again on offense to take a 4-3 lead while Bruns threw in
a goal to make it 4-4. Vanderbilt held its last lead on a goal by Carly
Linthicum to go up 5-4 with 15:01 to play.
Florida
worked a 4-0 run to take a lead for good starting with a senior attack Caroline
Chesterman (South Nyack, N.Y.) goal. Dashiell, Bruns and Nicole Graziano
upped the score to 8-5 with 8:43 to play. Florida completed a 7-1 run with
three consecutive goals from Gilroy, Bruns and Dashiell before closing the half
with a 11-8 lead.
Up
next for the Gators is the regular season finale against ALC rival Northwestern
on Saturday at Dizney Stadium with a 12 p.m. opening draw. Florida will honor
13 players in its senior day recognition, along with two managers, upon the
conclusion of the game.
