LAX: Gators Top Johns Hopkins in Season Opening Thriller
Photo via Gainesville Sports Commission

With just twenty-one seconds remaining in a tie game, Florida junior attacker Gianna Monaco stepped up for a free-position attempts. Upon hearing the whistle resuming play she moved in, deked her stick to the left before coming back to the right and sneaking the ball behind the Johns Hopkins goaltender for the win.

The Gators open the season 1-0 thanks to a thrilling come from behind win that saw Florida trail 11-9 with six minutes in regulation.

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The Gators actually got off to a quick start as Ava Tighe crashed the net from the left and found nylon. Florida took a 2-0 lead just 95-seconds later when Kaitlyn Davies struck.

Following a goal from the Blue Jays, Davies would strike again from the left wing position to put the Gators ahead 3-1.

Sixteen seconds into the second period, JHU scored to cut the Florida lead to just one. Once again, the Gators rebounded to reclaim the two goal advantage. This time, Jenny Markey scored off a feed from Jordan Basso.

Momentum began to shift and suddenly the Blue Jays were on a 4-0 run to take a 6-4 lead. By halftime, however, Florida evened the score on Davies’ third and Markey’s second.

The two teams traded goals throughout the third quarter before JHU went on a three-goal run early in the fourth to make it 10-8 in favor of the home team. Basso scored twice in a three-minute span to make it an 11-10 contest with less than four minutes remaining. Forty seconds later, freshman Clark Hamilton recorded her first career goal to tie the game and set up the theatrical conclusion.

The Blue Jays dominated the draw circle, 15-7 which led to a massive disparity in shots. JHU attempted 37 shots to 19 by Florida.

UF goalkeeper Georgia Hoey made ten saves in collecting the victory.

The Gators will face Kennesaw State in their home opener Sunday morning. First draw is scheduled for 11:00 AM. The Owls are 0-1 after falling to South Florida, 19-6.

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