COLUMBUS, Ohio – A three-goal outburst at the start of the second half Saturday afternoon helped No. 17 Ohio State to a 14-9 victory over Florida in an American Lacrosse Conference game.
The lead went back and forth for much of the first half but the Buckeyes (6-3, 1-1 ALC) scored the three goals to start the second half and took a five-goal lead. Florida (6-4, 0-2 ALC) never caught up.
Ashley Bruns gave Florida a 1-0 lead, but Ohio State fought back with a pair of goals for a 2-1 lead. But the young Gators responded with goals from Colby Rhea (off a feed from Kitty Cullen), Bruns and Brittany Dashiell for a 4-2 lead. But Ohio State came back, took advantage of a couple of Florida mistakes and tied the game at 4-4 with 13:54 left in the first half.
Once again, Florida took the lead when defender Jamie Reeg broke in from midfield to score her first goal of the season. But Florida’s 5-4 lead was shortlived because Ohio State scored three goals in the final nine minutes of the half for a 7-5 halftime lead.
When Ohio State scored three goals to start the first half for a 10-5 lead, Florida coach Amanda O’Leary took a timeout. Caroline Chesterman got one of the goals back for the Gators but Ohio State answered again for an 11-6 lead. Florida got within four goals again on a goal by Cullen never got closer. Chesterman and Janine Hillier scored Florida’s final two goals.
Bruns finished with two goals and two assists. Chesterman and Cullen each had a goal and assist. Goalie Cara Canington had a season-high six ground balls and nine saves. Ohio State outshot Florida 30-29 but the Gators totaled 26 ground balls to Ohio State’s 19. Florida also controlled the draw, winning 14 to Ohio State’s 11.
Florida returns home Tuesday night to meet Oregon at 6:30 in the Donald R. Dizney Stadium. Florida’s next American Lacrosse Conference game is next Saturday at home against Penn State.