Florida is 32-0 all-time in the Big 12 conference and has shown no signs of breaking that streak.
In a rematch of last season's Big 12 championship game against Arizona State, where the Gators took the win 21-10, the Gators secured their first conference win of the season and solidified their dominance over the Sun Devils.
Having struggled in the draw circle since the beginning of the season, Florida has slowly been working its way upward and has finally found their rhythm.
Arizona was ranked third in the nation in draw controls, having 194 across 11 games. Florida was ranked 22nd in draw controls with 135 across nine games. In their face-off, the Gators took 13 draw controls to ASU’s 10. Taking seven of those wins for UF was senior defender Jenny Woodings.
Aided by sophomore midfielder Gabby Greene and attackers Frannie Hahn and Clark Hamilton, as well as freshman midfielder Caroline Hoskins, in the first nine minutes of the match, the Gators had the Sun Devils shut out and down by four.
With two minutes left in the second quarter, however, Florida’s shots could not find the back of the cage, and the lack of productivity allowed Arizona the space to cut their deficit to a single goal.
But Hamilton had other plans. She came out from the left side of the 8-meter arc to a drive across, step-in-step with her defender, to a far top right goal to break the Sun Devils momentum.
From then on, the Gators were back on their feet and leading for the rest of the game, not once allowing Arizona within three goals of their lead.
On Sunday, following a 24-hour delay due to a bee infestation at the Sun Devils Lacrosse Stadium, the No.7 Gators (8-2, 1-0 Big 12) topped Arizona State (5-7, 0-1 Big 12) 14-8 in Tempe, Arizona.
One defining obstacle to Florida’s success was ASU’s goalie, sophomore Regan Spichiger. Of Florida’s 25 shots on goal, Spichiger had 11 saves, with eight of those saves being in the first half alone, contributing to the Sun Devils’ ability to make a comeback early in the game.
Starting in the cage for Florida was sophomore Susan Radebaugh, who undoubtedly got her first career start in this game due to her 11-save performance against Dartmouth on March 21, which changed the trajectory of the contest.
In Sunday’s competition, however, Radebaugh struggled. In her 27 minutes of play time, she allowed six goals and had five saves.
When freshman starter Maya Soskin was later subbed in, she made a big difference. Saving eight shots and allowing only two goals in the remaining 32 minutes of the bout.
The Sun Devils made 27 shots, with 21 of those being on goal, but by the end of the day, only eight balls had gotten past Florida’s defense and goalies.
The Gators strong defense has been not only a strength for this team but a need, with their three goalies revolving in and out of the cage; Florida’s defense has had a big responsibility to bear.
Speaking of defense, UF caused four of ASU’s nine turnovers, but they were outdone. Florida committed 12 turnovers, six of which were caused by Arizona.
Regardless of UF’s ability to protect the cage from outside shooters, the team relaxed on their ball handling and protection skills, something that cannot continue, specifically as they look for more success in conference play.
On offense, Hamilton had 5 goals and was the day's leading scorer. Trailing was Greene with a hat trick, and with two goals was freshman attacker Autumn Blair, in only her second career start.
For Arizona State, senior attacker Lydia Oldknow made half its goals.
The Gators will return home to compete in their second conference match-up against No. 14 Colorado (7-2, 1-0 Big 12) on Saturday at noon.
Contact Coral Uzgiden at cuzgiden@alligator.org. Follow her on X @coraluzgiden.
Coral is a sophomore Sports Journalism student in her first semester with the Alligator covering Lacrosse. She also has experience writing for WRUF and covering beats such as high school football and Gators swim and dive. She is an intern for the Women of the Lowcountry and in her free time enjoys playing waterpolo, going to the gym and being outside.
