After a back-and-forth matchup between two top-15 teams on Wednesday, Florida lacrosse trailed with just seconds left on the clock. A foul by Pennsylvania senior midfielder Gracie Smith sent UF junior midfielder Kaitlyn Davies to the eight-meter arc for a free-position shot.
Davies fired her attempt, sending the Gators into overtime for the first time this season. In the extra period, Penn won the initial draw control, but an offensive foul gave Florida possession. With 91 seconds left on the game clock and 90 seconds on the shot clock, the Gators held possession and had a chance to take the final shot.
UF worked to find an open player inside, but the ball hit the ground. However, junior attacker Gianna Monaco scooped it up and sent a bouncing shot just outside the crease, sneaking it past freshman goalkeeper Orly Sedransk with five seconds left in overtime.
Davies and Monaco’s combined late heroics powered No. 7 Florida (8-2) to a 13-12 victory over No. 15 Pennsylvania (4-3) in Philadelphia. Davies recorded a game-high five goals, while Monaco added three and an assist. UF redshirt freshman attacker Frannie Hahn tallied two goals and six assists for a game-high eight points.
Meanwhile, senior midfielder Anna Brandt led the Quakers with four goals. Senior attacker Keeley Block and sophomore attacker Catherine Berkery each scored three, with Berkery netting a go-ahead goal with 43 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Additionally, Penn controlled the draw circle, winning 17 of 28 draw controls.
In goal for Penn, Sedransk made seven saves while allowing 13 goals. UF graduate student goalkeeper Georgia Hoey started in net, allowing seven goals on 10 shots. She was replaced three minutes into the second half by redshirt junior Elyse Finnelle, who earned the win with one save while allowing five goals.
Penn struck first in the opening quarter, but Florida responded with three straight goals. Block and Brandt scored late for the Quakers to even the score at 3-3.
Penn carried that momentum into the second quarter, dominating possession and outshooting the Gators 10-2. However, Hoey made three saves, limiting the Quakers to just one goal. Monaco tied the match at 4-4 with a score in the final moments of the half.
She struck again to open the third quarter, but Penn quickly responded with three goals in a two-minute span. Block and Brandt both completed their respective hat tricks, giving the Quakers a three-goal lead midway through the period. Florida answered quickly, as Davies scored her second goal, and Hahn netted two goals in just 13 seconds to tie the game at 8-8.
In the fourth quarter, Penn reclaimed the lead with two quick goals. Florida responded with scores from Emily Heller and Davies to make it 10-10 with under five minutes left. Davies put UF ahead with another goal, but Brandt and Berkery struck to give Penn a late advantage. However, Davies converted the aforementioned free-position shot with 13 seconds left, forcing overtime. From there, Monaco went on to seal the Gators’ fifth consecutive win in the extra period.
Florida will open Big 12 conference play against UC Davis on Friday at 9 p.m. ET in Davis, California.
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.
