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Thursday, March 28, 2024
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Florida’s Ashley Bruns (13) attacks the net against Ohio State defender Tayler Kuzma (24) in the Gators’ 13-7 win against the Buckeyes on March 23 at Dizney Stadium. Northwestern held Bruns to one goal in Florida's 8-3 loss on Sunday.</span></p>

Florida’s Ashley Bruns (13) attacks the net against Ohio State defender Tayler Kuzma (24) in the Gators’ 13-7 win against the Buckeyes on March 23 at Dizney Stadium. Northwestern held Bruns to one goal in Florida's 8-3 loss on Sunday.

Ashley Bruns was unstoppable on Sunday. 

Bruns tied a career-high scoring mark with eight goals to help Florida (15-1, 3-1 American Lacrosse Conference) overcome a slow start and overmatch Vanderbilt (2-13, 0-5 ALC) 21-10.

Her eight goals also equaled a program record.

Midway through the first half, the fourth-ranked Gators trailed the Commodores 5-4.

Coach Amanda O’Leary took a timeout to calm her team.

“It was a matter of playing the type of game that we needed to play,” O’Leary. “We just needed to right the ship defensively.”

The Gators responded with a 7-3 run to end the first half.

Florida maintained its momentum after halftime, using a five-goal run in 9 minutes to derail any chance of a comeback from the Commodores.

Florida outscored Vandy 10-2 in the second half.

Bruns provided a spark throughout the game. Eight of her nine shots from the crease found the back of the net.

“Eight for nine? That’s a legendary game right there,” O’Leary said. “She was doing it all today. She just had a monstrous game.”

Bruns has 13 goals in her past two games.

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“It feels really great scoring that many goals today,” Bruns said. 

UF unleashed a season-high 40 shots in the game, notching the fourth-highest mark in program history. Despite shooting better than 50 percent, the Gators were stymied by Vanderbilt goalkeeper Chelsea Pasfield, who stopped 14 shots.

“We were coming in on her one-on-one, and she was making point-blank saves,” O’Leary said. “Definitely hats off to their goalkeeper because she was keeping them in the game.”

Florida’s Ashley Bruns (13) attacks the net against Ohio State defender Tayler Kuzma (24) in the Gators’ 13-7 win against the Buckeyes on March 23 at Dizney Stadium. Northwestern held Bruns to one goal in Florida's 8-3 loss on Sunday.

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