Mikaela Queen

Women’s lacrosse started a six game win streak with their 22-8 victory Mount Olive on March 30. 

Since then, the Mocs have defeated Rollins, Embry-Riddle, Saint Leo, Tiffin and Findlay, all by more than five goals. The team is ranked No.2 in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) and No. 7 in the nation. 

The Mocs saw a 16-11 victory over Rollins on April 3 at Moccasin Field. For her third-straight game, Riley Bannatyne scored five goals as she lead the team offensively. Grace Glinecki, Dani Bursinger and Julia Couch all scored a pair of goals during the game while Lizzy Lynch, Brenna Smith, Maliah Benedetto, Marina Jozokos and Catherine Dekorte all recorded a goal. 

The Mocs opened up the game with three-straight goals within the first five minutes of play. Lynch’s goal halfway through the first half set the Mocs on a 4-0 run until Hannah Ashton scored for the Tars at the eight minute mark. Glinecki took a feed from Jozokos to end the first half ahead by 4. 

 The seniors were celebrated on April 6 when the Mocs played their last home game of the season with a 21-10 sweep over Embry-Riddle. Aubriana Benedetto, Bursinger, Same Keesey, Maganzini, Adrianna Mannarelli, Lauren Norton and Kelsey O’Connor were all honored for being the seniors on the team.

The combination of four goals from both Bannatyne and Glinecki, three goals from both Jozokos and A.Benedetto, and a pair of goals from Smith advanced the team offensively. Freshman Patricia Werker played a total of 30 minutes at the net making eight saves and only allowing three balls to pass. 

The Mocs delivered Saint Leo their first loss of the season on April 9 as they took down the Lions 15-6. A.Benedetto and Smith lead the team offensively each recording three goals a peice. Sarah Grady and M.Benedetto offensively participated each finding the back of the net twice. 

Bursinger hit her 400 draw control career mark in her sixth out of nine during the game. She is the first in Florida Southern history to achieve this. 

The team traveled to Ohio to play Tiffin and Findlay. On April 12, they walked away with a 17-4 defeat over Tiffin and two days later took down Findlay 19-5. 

In the game against Tiffin, Jozkoks (3) and Smith (2) combined shot five goals within the first 10 minutes of the game, giving the mocs an early edge over Tiffin.

After the 30 minutes of play, the Mocs outscored the lions 7-2. The Dragons opened up the second half with a goal by Amie Morrison, but the Mocs came back with 9-0 run giving Tiffin no chance fatigue the Mocs. A final goal by Maganzini with less than two minutes in the game locked in their victory. 

The Mocs jumped into the game against Findlay with a 7-0 over the Oilers. Bannatyne put one in the back of the net just four minutes into play. The Oilers saw the scoreboard at the 13 minute mark as Hannah Peebeles scored an unassisted goal on the Mocs. At halftime, the Mocs were up 13-3. 

Bursinger scored 57 seconds into the second half to start a 3-0 run for the Mocs. The second half slowed down as the Mocs only found the back of the net six times, but they still outscored the Oilers 6-2. The Mocs left Ohio with two double-digit victories. 

The Mocs will travel to West Palm Beach on April 20 to play Palm Beach Atlantic in their final conference game of the season. This game marks the final game of the season before tournament play.

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