UF Lacrosse: Gators Season Comes to a Close in NCAA Quarterfinals

Photo by Greg Wall

Courtesy of University Athletic Association

BY KATIE CALLAHAN

Florida falls to No. 3 Syracuse 17-11 in the quarterfinal of the NCAA Tournament

The sixth-seeded Florida lacrosse team finished its 2021 campaign on Saturday after falling to the third-ranked Syracuse Orange 17-11.

The Gators conclude the season with a stellar 18-3 record, including a 10-0 record in conference play. Florida swept both the ACC regular season championship and the tournament championship this season. UF also swept all six major AAC postseason awards and had 10 players earn All-Conference accolades.

Paisley Eagan, Brianna Harris, and Shannon Kavanagh led the way offensively for Florida, each registering two goals apiece in the game.

Grace Haus, Emily Heller, Kassidy Bresnahan, Danielle Pavinelli, and Shelton Sawers all found the back of the cage once.

Harris dished out three helpers in the game, bringing her to 94 for her career – tying her for first in program history (Ashley Bruns). Haus added two assists in the game, while Emerson Cabrera tallied one on the afternoon.

Florida won 15-of-30 draws in the game, with Harris collecting a team-high five. Kavanagh added three of her own, while Emma Wightman, Kaitlyn Dabkowski, and Eagan each registered two.

Wightman posted a team-high two caused turnovers in the game, while Becky Browndorf and Pavinelli joined with one apiece.

Kavanagh and Wightman both notched a team-high three groundballs on the afternoon, followed by two from Dabkowski and Pavinelli.

Sarah Reznick recorded 11 saves in her 60 minutes between the posts.

O’Leary’s Insight

  *   “We came into this game really prepared, but credit a really good Syracuse team. They put forth a fantastic effort. We held them well in the first half, but they came out very strong in the second half, and we did not match that energy. Proud of my team – proud of the effort they put forth in a unique season.”

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