Just over two minutes into the second quarter of Florida lacrosse’s matchup against North Carolina on Feb. 15, a play years in the making took place.
UF redshirt freshman attacker Frannie Hahn had the ball in her stick on the left corner of the 8-meter arc. She ran away from the net, turned and spotted an opportunity: her older sister, senior midfielder Josie Hahn, sprinting towards the net.
“Seeing her cut, she was really covered,” Frannie Hahn said. “But I have so much trust in her. I just threw it, knowing 100% she was gonna catch it and score.”
As soon as the pass reached Josie Hahn’s stick, the ball found its way into the back of the net. For the first time in their collegiate careers, the Hahn sisters connected for a goal. Despite Florida’s 14-9 loss in the match, the goal was a memory neither sister would ever forget.
“We’ve always talked about that as we were growing up, getting to play together and what it would be like in a real game and what we would do," Josie Hahn said. “And now it’s actually coming true, which is awesome.”
The sisters, who have a two-year age gap, grew up in Catonsville, Maryland, a state where lacrosse is massively popular. But playing the sport wasn't just a hobby for them – it was a way of life. They played in their backyard almost every day for years, pushing each other to improve.
Frannie and Josie Hahn eventually played together for St. Paul’s School for Girls and the Hero’s Tournament Lacrosse Club – one of the top-ranked women’s lacrosse club teams in the country.
The older Hahn then arrived at UF in 2022 and immediately made an impact. She started in 14 games during her freshman campaign, all while scoring 16 goals in the season. She earned second-team All-AAC honors for her first-year performance in the process.
Though her role with Florida shifted during her sophomore and junior campaigns, the older sister has had a more prominent role as a senior, starting five of Florida’s first six games in 2025.
“We’ve asked a lot of her [Josie]... and a lot of times, it’s the dirty work,” Florida head coach Amanda O’Leary said. “She’s not always reaping the benefits of seeing her name in the box score, but if you were to stat her and see how many times she’s involved in getting somebody else in the box score, I think it’d be pretty impressive.”
Josie Hahn has also embraced a leadership role, serving as one of UF’s team captains this season. It's been a challenge, she said, but one she has enjoyed through her first four weeks. Her younger sister, however, said she has excelled in her new position.
“She’s always at the field, doing extra reps and watching film,” Frannie Hahn said. “She’s doing everything she can to be a great leader for everyone.”
Frannie Hahn chose to join UF’s lacrosse team in 2024, feeling as if she and her sister had unfinished business as she wanted to play with her best friend again. However, an injury to her sesamoid bone in her foot required surgery, forcing her to redshirt her freshman year.
“She committed here my freshman year, so we had to wait two years for her to get here, and then she’s injured last year,” Josie Hahn said. “We've been building it up so much.”
Still, she remained an active member of the team, studying film and analyzing what it takes to succeed at the next level. Her dedication earned her a “student of the game” moniker from O’Leary.
“It’s not easy being on the sideline, but I think she [Frannie] made the most of it,” O’Leary said. “She wasn’t able to be on the field, but what she did off the field has now paid off in dividends with what she’s doing now on the field.”
The younger Hahn has emerged as one of UF’s top offensive contributors, leading the Gators in both assists (12) and points (26) through six games. On March 1, she became just the sixth player in program history to record 10 or more points in a game, tallying seven goals and three assists in Florida’s 17-16 loss to James Madison.
“This Fall, I was so happy to be back,” Frannie Hahn said. “My teammates were so happy for me, and my coaches were so supportive, which gave me all the confidence this season.”
Now reunited on the field, the bond between the Hahn sisters has never been stronger. They live together, spend nearly every day side by side and cherish each moment of their final season together.
“Everything that we did growing up together… has finally made it to the real world, and now we can actually do it for Florida,” Josie Hahn said.
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.
