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The Florida Gators Lacrosse team head back home 9-3 on the season after defeating the Temple Owls 17-13 on Saturday. The Gators are now 2-1 in conference play while Temple falls 0-3 and 5-7 overall. This is the fourteenth time that the Florida Gators Lacrosse team has defeated the Temple Owls.
Gators Strike Early
The Florida Lacrosse team played an impressive first quarter posting six goals on the board. Maggie Hall assisted the first two goals to start with dishes to Emma LoPinto and Danielle Pavinelli respectively in a 22-second span. The Temple Owl Junior Camryn Zavacky answered with a goal to cut the lead 2-1. LoPinto showed back up again but so did Zavacky with four minutes left to play.The Gators netted three more goals including a hat trick from Kaitlyn Davies to Emma LoPinto to close the frame 2-6.
Kaitlyn Davies finds Emma LoPinto off the 8-meter and that's a first quarter HAT TRICK for Emma 🔥
Q1 | UF 6, Temple 2#FLax | #GoGators pic.twitter.com/rtgPJQYfhn
— Gators Lacrosse (@GatorsLAX) April 8, 2023
Temple Shows Up in the Second Frame
The second frame began with a free-position shot from Emily Heller, her second of the day. Hall added another shot 41 seconds later to give Florida a six-point lead but things slowed down from there.
Our attackers ball movement 🤌
📺 https://t.co/DJ9AWdw5kt #FLax | #GoGators pic.twitter.com/oLWfaPl0AE
— Gators Lacrosse (@GatorsLAX) April 8, 2023
Both teams were neck and neck for eight unanswered minutes then Temple showed up with four goals while the Gators added zero. The Gators entered halftime 9-7.
Third Quarter Trouble
Unlike the first quarter where the Gators had a breeze in the park, the third quarter was packed with competition. Hall opened the frame with an unassisted goal earning her fifth hat trick of the season pushing the Gators 10-7. Temple saw the back of the cage then LoPinto netted her fifth of the day.
Make that 🖐️ for Emma!
📺https://t.co/DJ9AWdw5kt #FLax | #GoGators pic.twitter.com/JcJtXLKJqj
— Gators Lacrosse (@GatorsLAX) April 8, 2023
Temple responded with a goal then Heller answered but Temple had the final shot of the frame.
Final Frame
The Gators knew they needed to push in the last frame if they wanted to secure a win. Hall, Heller and Pavinelli dished goals respectively to bump the Gators up 15-11.
.@emilyheller1 🤯🎯💪
📺https://t.co/DJ9AWdw5kt #FLax | #GoGators pic.twitter.com/Jtp5Wo6xNu
— Gators Lacrosse (@GatorsLAX) April 8, 2023
The Owls were aggressive but that didn’t phase the Gators one bit. Temple hit a goal then the Gators sent one back. Temple put up one more goal and Florida nailed the final shot to win 17-13.
What’s Up Next?
The Gators earned their fourth straight win and aren’t finished just yet. They will take a mid-week road trip to Lynchburg, Va. to compete against the Liberty Flames. The opening draw is slated for 1 p.m.
