Special report on the Florida Gators lacrosse team:
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- In a top-five showdown featuring No. 3 Florida and No. 2 Syracuse at the Carrier Dome Tuesday, the Gators emerged victorious in sudden-death overtime, 11-10, after Sammi Burgess connected with junior Mollie Stevens one minute and six seconds into the first overtime period. The Orange and Blue improved to 5-0, racked up their third ranked win of the season and knocked off the No. 2 team on the road for the second time this year after defeating then-No. 2 North Carolina Feb. 20 in Chapel Hill. Tuesday's win was the fourth overtime game in the eight meetings between the Gators and Orange and marked Florida's first-ever win in Syracuse. At the start of overtime with the game knotted 10-10, Syracuse won one of its 17 draw controls, but the Gators were persistent. Stevens caused a big-time turnover and set up on the offensive end for the game-winning goal after being fed by Burgess. Senior goalkeeper Mary-Sean Wilcox was lights out for the Gators with nine saves to Allie Murray's two for Syracuse on the afternoon. Florida's freshmen accounted for five goals against the Orange, including a hat trick for Lindsey Ronbeck. The first-year Gators put up UF's first three goals of the game via two scores from Sydney Pirreca and one from Ronbeck before Syracuse responded with three of their own to knot the game at 3-3 with 12:33 remaining in the first. The Orange took a 4-3 lead with 6:21 remaining in the half, but Burgess and Ronbeck teamed up for another three-goal Gator run for a 6-4 Florida advantage at the half before the back-and-forth battle in the second. Trailing 9-7 with 15:45 left in the game, UF closed the gap with a 3-1 run down the stretch courtesy of Burgess, senior Nicole Graziano, the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week, and Stevens goals for the 10-10 tie heading to OT. Junior Taylor Bresnahan highlighted UF's back line with a team-high three caused turnovers and four ground balls in Tuesday's affair. THE RECORDS No. 3 Florida: 5-0 No. 2 Syracuse: 5-1 NUMBERS OF NOTE * 30: straight games with a goal for junior Mollie Stevens, who took UF ahead 10-9 with 4:11 remaining in the game and then cashed in the game-winner in overtime * 20: ground balls for Florida, compared to 15 for Syracuse in Tuesday's clash * 5: goals until junior Mollie Stevens hits the 100-goal milestone in a Gator uniform. Stevens will be the fifth player in Florida history to do so * 5: goals from Florida's freshmen against Syracuse. Sydney Pirreca and Lindsey Ronbeck additionally teamed up for seven goals against then-No. 2 North Carolina Feb. 20 * 11: straight games with at least one save for senior goalkeeper Mary-Sean Wilcox, who had nine Tuesday, one shy of her career high * 3: straight games with a goal for both freshmen Sydney Pirreca and Lindsey Ronbeck O'LEARY ANALYSIS "This was another fantastic win for this team and our program. It wasn't easy, but what a game. This team works so hard and these wins are a result of the hard work they put in every day in practice. It took contributions from every single player on that field today. We'll enjoy this, but as always there are things to improve upon and we'll get back to work to continue getting better." UP NEXT The Gators will split next weekend's two games, home and away. Florida will host Niagara Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. at Donald R. Dizney Stadium before hitting the road Saturday for another ranked match-up Sunday at Stony Brook. Following Sunday's game against Stony Brook, the Orange and Blue will enjoy a nice five-game home stand in the Sunshine State.