After failing to record a point for the first time in her career on Wednesday, Florida lacrosse freshman attacker Clark Hamilton went on a tear Friday night.
Hamilton opened the scoring in the beginning moments of the match with what proved to be the game-winning goal in a contest the Gators never trailed. However, she wasn’t done. She added a goal to close the first quarter and one more to open the second.
Then, she made her best move of the night, bolting past a defender and launching a moonshot into the top right corner of the net for her fourth goal of the first half.
Hamilton’s four-goal performance fueled No. 7 Florida’s (9-2, 1-0 Big 12) offensive onslaught to a 16-10 victory over UC Davis (3-7, 1-1 Big 12) in their Big 12 opener.
The Gators outshot the Aggies 39-24, with 34 of the shots on goal. Alongside Hamilton, UF junior attacker Gianna Monaco added four goals of her own, continuing her momentum after scoring the game-winner in UF’s 13-12 overtime victory over Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Three of her goals came on free-position shots.
Five other Gators found the back of the net. Graduate student attacker Jordan Basso contributed two goals and an assist, while redshirt freshman attacker Frannie Hahn, UF’s leading scorer this season, also tallied two goals and an assist. For UC Davis, senior attacker Lauren Picardi led the team with four goals.
Florida also controlled the draw circle, winning 18 draws to UC Davis’ 12. Its dominance was on full display in the third quarter, where it won all seven draws. Junior midfielder Cali Bishop led the way with a match-best eight controls, while graduate student midfielder Jenny Markey added five and sophomore midfielder Gabbi Koury chipped in three.
On defense, the Gators excelled, completing 16 of their 17 clearing attempts and causing eight of the Aggies’ 13 turnovers.
Graduate student goalkeeper Georgia Hoey got the start for Florida and secured the win, making seven saves on the 17 shots she faced. Meanwhile, senior Ally Richardson-Pepper stood strong in net for UC Davis, making 18 saves but surrendering 16 goals.
Florida dominated the opening half, outscoring UC Davis 10-4 while recording 21 shots on goal compared to the Aggies’ seven. Hamilton opened the scoring in the first quarter before Monaco and Hahn each found the net. Despite two late UC Davis goals, Hamilton struck again with 19 seconds left in the period to putUF ahead 5-2.
Both teams exchanged goals early in the second quarter, with Hamilton completing her hat trick just over a minute into the period. The gap remained at four for most of the quarter before UF tacked on two goals in the final 31 seconds: Basso scored first, followed by Markey, extending Florida’s lead to 10-4 at halftime.
The Gators continued their offensive dominance in the third quarter, but Richardson-Pepper’s seven saves kept the match within reach for UC Davis. However, Monaco secured her hat trick, while Koury and Basso each scored, giving UF an eight-goal advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
UC Davis mounted a comeback attempt with four fourth-quarter goals, but both of UF’s shots on goal found the back of the net as Hahn and junior midfielder Kaitlyn Davies each scored.
Florida will return to Gainesville to face San Diego State next Saturday at 10 a.m.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
Max is in his fourth semester at The Alligator, and he is the Spring 2025 lacrosse reporter and a second-year journalism sports & media major. He is a big South Florida sports fan, and likes to go to concerts with his friends and family.
