Colgate rallies to beat Florida in lacrosse

HAMILTON, N.Y. – The No. 20 Florida lacrosse team saw it three-match victory streak end Sunday in double overtime as Colgate’s Courtney Miller scored just 1:02 into the second overtime to stun the Gators, 12-11.

Miller, who scored five goals in the game, got the game-winner when she beat Florida goalie Cara Canington from six meters out on a free-position shot. It culminated an uphill battle by the Raiders (8-6) who at one point trailed by five goals.

Florida (9-5) got three goals each from Caroline Chesterman and Caroline Cochran. The Gators took a 3-0 lead on a goal by Brittany Dashiell and two by Ashley Bruns before Miller scored five minutes into the contest.

Florida then outscored Colgate 4-1 to open up a 7-2 lead. The Raiders scored twice at the end of the first half, the last with three seconds on the clock, and scored three goals to start the second half to tie the game at 7-7 with 21:41 remaining in regulation.

Florida took a 9-7 lead on goals by Cochran and Chesterman, but Miller, Meghan Lawler and Kate Bergstrom put Colgate up 10-9 with 4:25 remaining in the second half. Florida’s Janine Hillier sent the game into overtime with her goal at 1:45 left.

In the first overtime, Chesterman put Florida ahead 11-10 but Colleen Bubnack tied it for Colgate to send the game into a second overtime. Miller controlled the draw for Colgate and the Gators never got a chance on offense.

Florida outshot Colgate 35-30, but Colgate controlled 15 draws, including five in overtime, and Florida controlled 12. Colgate goalie Christina Roa made 16 saves, while Canington had eight.

Florida plays its final home game of its first season against American Lacrosse Conference rival, No. 10 Vanderbilt, next Sunday at 1 p.m.