University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Battle for Big East Regular Season Title Sunday
4/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The top two teams in the Big East, both undefeated in conference play, will meet Sunday, April 24 at noon when the UConn women's lacrosse team takes on No. 2 Florida on the road at Dizney Stadium. The winner of Sunday's contest will claim the Big East Conference Regular Season title.
The Huskies enter Sunday's match-up with a 12-2 overall record after an exciting 9-8 victory against Georgetown Saturday. Sophomore Grace Nolan (Marcellus, N.Y.) scored the game-winning goal against the Hoyas with 17 seconds left on the clock to preserve UConn's perfect, 6-0, Big East record.
Nolan currently leads team with 54 points (40g, 14a) followed by leading goal scorer, senior Katherine Finkelston (Leonardtown, Md.) with 48 points (43g, 5a) and junior Jacqueline Jordan (Los Gatos, Calif.) with 32 points (17g, 15a). Nolan's 3.86 points per game is the highest in the conference, followed by Finkelston's 3.43.
Senior goalkeeper Shannon Nee (Lancaster, Pa.) has earned the start in all 14 games for UConn and boasts the highest save percentage in the league (.537). Her 145 saves and career-best 9.06 goals against average have helped Nee record a program record 12 wins this season.
SCOUTING THE GATORS
No. 2 Florida is also undefeated, 6-0, in Big East play heading into Sunday's contest. The Gators are currently riding a six-game win streak since kicking off their conference schedule on March 26.
With a 15-1 overall record, Florida has climbed to the number two spot of the national polls by defeating six ranked teams, including Loyola, North Carolina, Syracuse, Stony Brook, Boston College and Towson. The Gators only loss of the season came against No. 1 Maryland.
Nicole Graziano currently leads Florida with 47 points (34g, 13a) followed by Shayna Pirreca and Lindsey Ronbeck, who are both tied with 41 points (26, 15a). Senior goalkeeper Mary-Sean Wilcox has started in all 16 games for the Gators and has recorded all 15 wins this season. Her 7.56 goals against average is the second-best in the Big East and her 64 saves this season leave her with a .478 save percentage.
THE SERIES
The Huskies and the Gators met for the first time last year during the 2015 regular season, and then again in the conference tournament. UConn upset conference newcomer, Florida during the regular season with an 11-10 comeback win on the Huskies' home turf. The two met again in UConn's first-ever Big East Championship game, where Florida walked away with the title after defeating UConn 20-6 in Storrs. They enter Sunday's match-up an even 1-1 in the all-time series.
UP NEXT...
UConn closes out its regular season schedule with a non-conference match-up with No. 18 Towson on Sunday, May 1 at noon on the road at the Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Md.
