No. 21 Women's Lacrossed Edged By No. 13 Florida

Wednesday, March 13

Gainesville, Fla.

1:00 PM

Princeton University

3-3

No. 13 Florida

6-2

Princeton

Florida

Photo by: Matt Pendleton

March 13, 2024 | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

Florida had the better of the draw controls, 26-5, but the Tigers kept the possession numbers as even as could be by forcing the Gators to commit a season-high 25 turnovers – including 14 caused directly by Princeton's defense.

From One End To The Other!

Kari Buonanno with a diving ground ball to gain possession and then she follows with a saucy pass to McKenzie Blake for a woman-down goal!@ILWomen | @USALacrosseMag | @NCAALAX pic.twitter.com/0PjClhf1bT
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) March 13, 2024

McKenzie Blake and Samantha DeVito each had four goals for the Tigers, Blake adding five ground balls. Grace Tauckus had two goals and two assists, while Jami MacDonald also had a pair of goals.

1:37 (1Q) Hoop And The Harm!

Since it's March Madness, going to borrow that term from basketball to describe this Samantha DeVito goal! pic.twitter.com/9ypLYbUOfF
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) March 13, 2024

The Gators stormed out to a 3-0 lead 3:12 into the game and led, 6-2 with 2:59 remaining in the opening period. Samantha DeVito scored twice for the Tigers before the end of the opening stanza, connecting twice in 0:17 to get Princeton within two before the end of the quarter.

You Save. I Scoop. I Score.

McKenzie Blake gets the ground ball and quickly deposits the rebound for her second of the game! pic.twitter.com/bBHTmQkDhB
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) March 13, 2024

In the second quarter, Florida outscored Princeton, 5-2, to take an 11-6 lead after the first half. McKenzie Blake and Jami MacDonald had Princeton's goals in the second quarter, MacDonald's goal coming off a nifty fake.

The deficit ballooned to seven early in the third quarter after a pair of Florida goals in the first 2:16. From there, though, Princeton put together a 5-1 run which started with DeVito's third goal of the game and included a beautiful sequence where Amelia Hughes made a save at one end, Sam Whiting carried the ball downfield in transition and Jami MacDonald scored while getting knocked to the ground bring the Tigers within five with 8:21 left in the third.

Playing Through The Pain.

Jami MacDonald scores while getting checked to the ground for her 2nd goal of the afternoon. pic.twitter.com/oJmk3pMUnv
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) March 13, 2024

Haven Dora would score next, and after the Gators got one back, goals from Grace Tauckus and DeVito in the final three minutes of the period sent Princeton to the fourth quarter trailing by three.

Ashley Gonzalez ended a 10:12 scoreless drought for the Gators when she scored with 10:08 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Gators a 15-11 lead.

McKenzie Blake would score twice in a span of 1:02 midway through the fourth to get the Tigers back to within two goals, but that was as close as Princeton would get. A chance to cut the lead to one was negated by a charging call on the Tigers while dodging to goal with under 2:00 to play and the Gators went back the other way to tack on an insurance goal with 1:08 remaining.

Blake Takes. Blake Makes!

McKenzie Blake strips a Gator deep in the attacking third and quickly scores for the hat trick!@ILWomen | @USALacrosseMag | @NCAALAX pic.twitter.com/nA1RFxsD50
— Princeton Women's Lax (@princetonwlax) March 13, 2024