Sophomore attacker Lindsey Ronbeck received a pass from senior attacker Sammi Burgess while standing behind the net.
Ronbeck had scored the first hat trick of the game nearly three minutes prior and was looking to continue putting pressure on Syracuse’s defense.
She ran around the crease and fired a shot toward Orange goalkeeper Asa Goldstock, blowing it right by her.
It was Ronbeck’s fourth goal of the game, and she wasn’t done.
Behind a career-high six goals from Ronbeck and a career-high-tying five goals from junior attacker Shayna Pirreca, the No. 3 Gators (6-1) defeated No. 5 Syracuse (7-2) 19-12 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
“Breakout game for Lindsey, I think,” UF coach Amanda O’Leary said. “She just has so much potential, and I think today we saw really what she can do and how dangerous she can be.”
The Gators started the game on a 4-0 run over a 7:10 span. After the run, the closest Syracuse came to catching Florida was a three-goal deficit.
Florida scored 13 first-half goals behind four goals from Ronbeck and a hat trick from Pirreca and held the Orange to five goals.
“I felt really comfortable, relaxed,” Ronbeck said. “We watched a lot of film on their defense, so I felt pretty comfortable.”
While Ronbeck and Pirreca accounted for 11 of Florida’s 19 goals, their teammates chipped in to help extend the Gators’ lead.
Burgess finished with two goals and three assists, and senior attacker Mollie Stevens and junior midfielder Allie Pavinelli each recorded two goals.
In goal, sophomore Haley Hicklen stopped 12 Syracuse shots. Her performance marked the third time she has made 12 or more saves this season.
Syracuse was led in scoring by junior attacker Riley Donahue, who recorded four goals and one assist.
After Ronbeck scored her fourth goal of the game, Syracuse made a change at goalie, replacing Goldstock with sophomore Bri Stahrr. The North Syracuse native changed the pace of the game for the Orange.
Stahrr made eight saves while letting in six second half goals, leading to Syracuse outscoring Florida in the second half, 7-6.
But it wasn’t enough to push the game in favor of the Orange, as the 12 goals Goldstock let up in the first half were enough for Florida to build a comfortable lead.
“You know, I think they came out of the locker room engaged, ready to play,” O’Leary said. “And again, this was a long stretch for us. But I just talked to them about their mental toughness, they played through their sore bodies and it couldn’t even show out there.”
Contact Jake Dreilinger at jdreilinger@alligator.org or follow him on Twitter @DreilingerJake
Lindsey Ronbeck runs toward the goal during Florida's 14-4 loss to Maryland on March 19, 2016, at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
