Senior attacker Lindsey Ronbeck had a record-breaking performance in her last home game for the Florida women’s lacrosse team.
Ronbeck scored nine goals against Cincinnati, setting a program record for most in a single game. She ended the regular season with 76 goals and 14 assists for 90 points, surpassing her total from last year.
The No. 17 Gators defeated the Bearcats 25-6 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium on Saturday behind Ronbeck’s nine-goal outing to finish undefeated in the American Athletic Conference. UF closed the regular season on an eight-game winning streak after losing three straight to No. 4 Syracuse, No. 3 North Carolina and No. 10 Princeton in March.
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you end,” coach Amanda O’Leary said. “I’ll never complain about losing to the top teams. I think it made us better.”
Florida (11-6, 5-0 AAC) not only celebrated winning the AAC regular-season title, but also its 11-player senior class on Saturday.
The weekend’s game served as Senior Day for the Gators, and Ronbeck was filled with emotion after the final whistle.
“I hugged (senior attacker) Alix Lopez in the end because we were both getting pretty choked up,” Ronbeck said. “I’ve been with these girls since freshman year. To end the game being on the field with all my seniors was incredibly amazing.”
Senior goalkeeper Haley Hicklen had a strong showing against the Bearcats, who scored only five times with her in net.
Hicklen posted six saves and a .545 save percentage in her final game at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.
The AAC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year has allowed no more than 10 goals in her last eight starts.
“I think Haley (Hicklen) is playing her best that I’ve seen her play in the four years she’s been here,” O’Leary said. “She’s just on fire.”
UF dominated in the draw circle, controlling the draw 22 times to Cincinnati’s 11 and providing Florida with more scoring opportunities. The Gators took advantage by scoring 25 goals, their highest total of the 2018-19 campaign.
Sophomore midfielder Shannon Kavanagh led Florida with eight draw controls, while Ronbeck and senior defender Sabrina Cristodero notched four apiece.
“I really think that’s a game-changer for us,” O’Leary said. “The fact that we were able to start with the ball that many times certainly puts you in a better position than being on your defensive end.”
With the victory over Cincinnati, Florida clinched the first seed in the AAC Tournament, which starts on Thursday.
“It’s a pretty quick turnaround,” Ronbeck said. “But we’ll get a chance to hang out with our families and hang out with the team tonight and reminisce on all the memories of the past four years.”
Follow Bryan Matamoros on Twitter @bmatamoros_ and contact him at bmatamoros@alligator.org.
Senior attacker Lindsey Ronbeck set a program record with nine goals on Saturday.
