The Florida Gators outscored visiting Cornell 5-1 after the break for a 10-5 college lacrosse victory Wednesday at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
Florida (6-3) led 5-4 at halftime, but clamped down on the defensive end in the second half, allowing just four shots and one goal by Cornell (2-5).
“I was pleased with our defense in the fact that we played as a team, and that’s something that we’ve been teaching day-in and day-out,” said Florida head coach Amanda O’Leary.
Cornell got on the board first as Jessi Steinberg scored her 18th goal of the season. Ashley Bruns scored two unassisted goals to give Florida a 2-1 lead, but the Big Red tied it when Libby Johnson scored on a free position shot.
Caroline Chesterman regained the lead for the Gators at the 22:13 mark before Johnson tied it at 3-3 on another free-position shot. With 13:18 remaining in the first half, Bruns gave UF the lead for good with her third goal of the night and 15th in the last three games.
Freshman midfielder Kitty Cullen scored to give Florida a two-goal advantage, 5-3, before Cornell’s Katie Kirk closed out the scoring with just three minutes remaining in the half.
After halftime, Florida was able to shut down the Big Red. Freshmen defenders Katie Ciaci, Emily Dohony, Jamie Reeg and Kayla Stolins made it easy for goalie Cara Canngton, who made two saves in the second half. The teams traded goals early but Florida put the game away by scoring four unanswered goals – Carolina Cochran, Brittany Dashiell, Chesterman and Janine Hillier.
Bruns’ three goals led the team, while Chesterman and Cullen each finished with two. Dashiell recorded a season-high five ground balls and caused three turnovers.
Florida held Cornell to just 15 shots in the game, nearly 10 below its season average. The Gators won 11 draw controls to the Big Red’s six and UF had 17 ground balls.
Florida visits No. 17 Ohio State Saturday at 1 p.m. for its second American Lacrosse Conference game.