CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

CINCINNATI - Sydney Pirreca's career-high 11 points paced another high-powered offensive performance for Florida, as the top-seeded Gators advanced to the American Athletic Conference Women's Lacrosse Championship with a 19-10 win over No. 4 seed Vanderbilt on Thursday.

No. 18 Florida (12-6) will meet the winner of No. 2 Cincinnati and No. 3 Temple in Saturday's inaugural championship game at the Sheakley Athletics Center.

Pirreca keyed the offense for the Gators, scoring five goals while dishing out a program-recrod six assists. Eight of the senior midfielder's points came in the first half alone. Grace Haus also netted five goals, while Lindsey Ronbeck finished with three goals, two assists and seven draw controls and earned her 300th career point. Shannon Kavanagh registered four goals, including a perfect 2-for-2 performance on the free position.

Four Commodores (10-6) scored multiple goals, including senior Julie Blaze who rounded out her line with five ground balls and a draw control. Bri Gross finished with two goals, two ground balls, a caused turnover and four draw controls.

In net, Haley Hicklen turned aside seven shots for Florida, with six in the first half, while the Commodores split time in net between Madison Foglio and Grace Bell. Foglio recorded four saves.

Vanderbilt was able to capitalize on several loose balls early and held onto an even 1-1 score through five minutes, but the next four scores belonged to the Gators thanks to dialed-up defense. Kavanagh was responsible for a pair of scores during the stretch.

The Commodores recovered quickly with success on the draw, and cut the Florida lead to just one at 13:16. Blaze began the three-goal streak with a no-look score to steal back momentum, and was followed by goals from Sophie Furlong and Maddie Souza.

The rest of the half belonged to the Gators, who tallied seven of the remaining eight goals. Pirreca reached her hat trick and dished out two more assists during the run, with Ronbeck scoring at the buzzer to send Florida in to the locker room with a 12-5 lead.

Pirreca added two more goals in the second half, trading scores with Gross to open the frame before the Gators rattled off five-straight and put the game out of reach. The Commodores climbed back within 10 goals in the final 10 minutes, scoring four of the last five tallies including two from Emily Mathewson.

All three games of The American's Women's Lacrosse Championship will be available live on the American Digital Network (facebook.com/AmericanDigitalNetworkPlus). Live coverage will be available throughout the championship at TheAmerican.org/WLax and on the conference's social media platforms: @American_WLax on Twitter and American_Conf on Facebook.

2019 American Athletic Conference
Women's Lacrosse Championship
Sheakley Athletics Center
Host: Cincinnati

Thursday, May 2 - Semifinals
American Digital Network
Game 1: No. 1 Florida 19, No. 4 Vanderbilt 10
Game 2: No. 2 Cincinnati vs. No. 3 Temple - 7:35 p.m. ET

Saturday, May 4 - Championship
American Digital Network
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 - 1 p.m. ET