Ashley Bruns scored six goals to lead the Florida lacrosse team to a 15-3 victory over previously ranked New Hampshire Saturday afternoon at Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The victory improved Florida’s record to 5-3.
The Wildcats (4-3) had been ranked as high as No. 12 in the Inside Lacrosse poll after starting the season with four straight wins.
“We’ve been trying to put together two 30-minute halves and I think we were able to successfully do that today,” Florida head coach Amanda O’Leary. “It started on Wednesday when we came out and played so well against Marist, and today we picked up where we left off. That says a lot for this team. Although they are very young, they’re maturing quickly.”
Florida had a 7-1 halftime lead but New Hampshire scored two goals early in the second half before the Gators put the victory away by tightening the defense and scoring eight straight goals. Florida’s defense limited New Hampshire to just 11 shots and three goals.
“We put in two new defenses [after losing to Johns Hopkins], and didn’t have a whole lot of time to put those defenses in,” O’Leary continued. “The players adjusted really well and are coming through with the game plan that we give them.”
Caroline Chesterman opened the scoring with a goal at the 22:11 mark in the first half off an assist from Bruns. Goals by Caroline Cochran and Colby Rhea gave Florida a 3-0 lead before Bruns scored four straight goals for a 7-1 halftime lead.
After New Hampshire’s Jenny Simpson and JoJo Curro cut the Florida lead to 7-3, goalie Cara Canington and the Gator defense held the Wildcats scoreless for the final 24:19 of the game.
“Cara was phenomenal today,” said O’Leary. “She came up with some huge saves in the second half.”
Goals by Julie Schindel, Cochran and Bruns gave Florida a 10-3 lead. Then captain Brittany Dashiell scored her 15th goal of the season and Rhea scored twice before Bruns and Kaley Pendley closed out the scoring.
The Gators now have 37 goals in the last two games and have scored 15 or more goals five times this season, winning all five games.
Bruns also had three assists to finish with nine points. She has 19 points (12 goals, seven assists) in the past two games.
The Gators’ homestand ends Wednesday night at 6:30 when Cornell travels to Gainesville.
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