Box Score LAKELAND – The Florida Southern women's lacrosse team cruised to an 18-7 victory over Gannon University Sunday afternoon at Bryant Stadium.
An eight-goal second half run allowed the ninth-ranked Moccasins (2-1, 0-0 SSC) to turn a relatively close game against the Golden Knights (0-1, 0-0 PSAC) into an 11-goal blowout.
Leading 10-6, the Mocs added three goals in a span of 1:13 to spur the run, the latter pair both coming from senior midfielder Lorianne Hoover (Annapolis, Md.) with a couple of helpers from senior attacker Caitlin Chase (Mt. Laurel, N.J.)
Hoover, who finished with a game-high eight points off five goals and three assists, added her third goal of the flurry with 12:17 to go in the second half, extending the Moccasin advantage to 10 goals at 16-6. Freshmen Cassidy Remmell (Ocean City, Md.) and Shannon Mazza (Kings Park, N.Y.) each added their first career goals to bring FSC's total to 18.
Fellow freshman Emily Santoli was tied with Hoover with a game-high five goals while equaling a program record for the most in a single game by a freshman. Only three games into her young career, Reber believes the Fort Salonga, N.Y., native is the perfect addition to the starting midfield group alongside two of the team's senior All-Americans.
"I think she (Santoli) has done a great job," Reber said. "She complements the line with her, Megan (Asper) and Lori (Hoover) very well, and I think it is great that she has the opportunity to work with them this year to get that experience since they'll both graduate next year."
Defensively, the Mocs caused a season-high 15 turnovers while limiting their opponent to a season-low seven goals. FSC also outgained the Golden Knights on ground balls, 27-to-18, while allowing Gannon to convert only 11 of its 20 clear attempts.
In goal, Taylor Gillis (Bel Air, Md.) made her second straight start. The 5-11 sophomore recorded a career-high seven saves while surrendering only six goals in 53:10 of playing time. Her counterpart, redshirt freshman Hanna Magee, made 14 saves in her collegiate debut.
Asper (Parkton, Md.) put the Mocs up 1-0 only 1:05 into the opening half, but Gannon's Ashley Mozingo tied the less than two minutes later. Santoli scored two straight, followed by a tally from redshirt sophomore Allie Kryjak (Potomac, Md.) to pull ahead 4-1.
Kierstyn Haight, who was denied of a free-position goal by Gillis earlier in the game, brought the Golden Knights back within two at 13:02, ending a 14:01 scoring drought. It would be nearly 13 more minutes before Gannon would find the back of the net again; Haight added her second goal seconds before the half expired following three straight from FSC. The Mocs led 7-3 at the break.
The two teams went back-and-forth in the early minutes of the second half. Leilani King scored 14 seconds into the period on Gannon's first possession, but Santoli won the ensuing draw control and responded with her fourth goal 14 seconds later. King won the following draw control, and a foul called on Gillis outside of the crease gave Tessa Mitchell an empty net on the free position opportunity to make it a three-goal game, 8-5, in favor of the Mocs.
FSC scored 10 of the next 11 to run away with the win. Gannon was held scoreless for the next 22:13 following its free-position goal at 23:08 from Heather Vouros. Mozingo added a late score with 55 seconds remaining.
Florida Southern will continue its 10-game season-opening homestand with a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 3. The Mocs host Regis (Colo.) at 11 a.m. and then return to Bryant Stadium for a 7 p.m. matchup against Wilmington (Del.).
