The Gators’ offense has gotten quite a bit of attention.
The unit ranks second nationally in goals per game with 17.25, and Florida is one of two teams in the country to have four 50-point scorers.
What has been equally as impressive this season, but has not received as much attention without the gaudy statistics of the attack, is the play of the UF defense.
“Often times defenses go under the radar,” coach Amanda O’Leary said.
Florida put together one of its most impressive defensive showings of the season in a 17-5 win at Vanderbilt on Saturday.
“Containing their (Vanderbilt’s) offense was something we were worried about,” O’Leary said. “We had not done a very good job in the past couple of games of containing 1 v. 1 opportunities for our opponents… I thought they came out and executed the game plan very well defensively.”
The Commodores’ 13 shots were the fewest the Gators have ever surrendered to an American Lacrosse Conference opponent, with the previous low being 19 in an 8-7 win at Vanderbilt last season.
Florida lowered its goals-against average to 6.63 and moved into sole possession of first place in the country in scoring defense after Saturday’s win.
The team results have been strong for Florida despite the fact it does not have a player ranked in the top 50 in the country in either ground balls or caused turnovers. O’Leary cited the continuity of the defense a reason for its strong play.
“They have played together now for two-and-a-half, almost three years,” O’Leary said. “They are getting to know each other. The communication has gotten better.”
Whereas the attack lost senior Caroline Cochran to a torn ACL in her left knee earlier this season and the midfield lost junior Janine Hillier to transfer in the offseason, the core of the defense has remained intact since 2010. Juniors Kayla Stolins, Sam Farrell, Haydon Judge, Jamie Reeg and Emily Dohony have all been mainstays in Florida’s defensive backfield since the team’s inaugural season.
The depth of the unit has been strengthened as well with the addition of freshman Sally Jentis. She has seen action in 14 of the Gators’ 16 games this season, collecting 11 ground balls and causing six turnovers.
Her most impressive moment this season came when she was subbed in for an injured Dohony in the second half of Florida’s 13-12 win against Johns Hopkins on April 7. The Blue Jays won the opening draw of the second overtime, but Jentis forced a turnover 18 seconds later, and the Gators scored the winning goal on the ensuing possession.
“She’s certainly somebody we can put in there at any point in time,” O’Leary said. “She certainly walks in there and is flawless.”
With a showdown at top-ranked undefeated Northwestern looming Saturday, O’Leary was glad to see her team stifle Vanderbilt.
“I’m really just excited with our defense,” O’Leary said. “I thought it was good for our defense to be challenged in the last couple of games. They came out on Saturday and put it all together.”
Florida freshman midfielder Nicole Graziano checks Vanderbilt’s Brandi Byner during Saturday’s 17-5 win against the Commodores.
