CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

CINCINNATI - Top-seeded Florida pulled away with seven goals in the second half, claiming the inaugural American Athletic Conference Women's Lacrosse title with a 15-9 win at No. 2 seed Cincinnati on Saturday. The Gators secure the conference's automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA Championship, which begins next week.

The Gators have now won six-consecutive conference championships, and will advance to their ninth straight NCAA tournament, all under head coach Mandee O'Leary.



Senior Lindsey Ronbeck led all players with six goals, earning tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. For the championship, she finished with 9 goals and 2 assists for 11 points, along with 11 draw controls.

Shannon Kavanagh registered seven points on the afternoon with four goals and three assists, collecting five draw controls as Florida (13-6) controlled possession for much of the second half. The duo of Ronbeck and Kavanagh combined for 21 shots, bettering Cincinnati's full roster, which totaled 20.

Grace Haus and Brianna Harris both scored twice for the Gators, and Cara Trombetta caused three turnovers with five ground balls.

Cincinnati received two goals apiece from Kylie Nause and Sam Mlkvy, with Mlkvy adding two assists, two ground balls, a caused turnover and three draw controls. Giuliana Durso made seven saves in net, including five in the first half.

A free-position goal by Nause opened the scoring in Cincinnati's favor, but Florida responded with five-straight after dominating on the draw. Five different Gators scored over a seven-minute period until the Bearcats called a timeout.

Bearcat goals by Gianna Napoletano and Amanda Donovan then turned the momentum, and after a pair of caused turnovers, Cincinnati pulled within one on a Mlkvy goal. Florida scored the next three, including two by Ronbeck, but Cincinnati's Alyssa Adams broke a long scoreless drought before half. Florida took a narrow 8-5 advantage into the break despite outshooting the Bearcats 20-9 on the frame.

The Gators wasted no time to start the second, putting the game out of reach by registering seven of the first eight goals. Ronbeck scored three times in the first seven minutes, followed by a consecutive hat trick by Kavanagh to put the visitors up by nine with five minutes remaining.

Cincinnati closed the game with the final three scores, including Morgan Dukes' first career goal, but time ran out on the comeback attempt.



The Bearcats close out their best season in program history at 12-7 (4-1 American) and earned their first-ever postseason tournament appearance.

Florida awaits its NCAA Championship fate on Sunday evening, with the 2019 Selection Show slated for 8 p.m. ET. The show will be streamed live on NCAA.com.

2019 American Athletic Conference
Women's Lacrosse Championship
Most Outstanding Player
Lindsey Ronbeck, A, Florida

All-Tournament Team
Alyssa Adams, M, Cincinnati
Monica Borzillo, A, Cincinnati
Morgan Dukes, D, Cincinnati
Giuliana Durso, GK, Cincinnati
Grace Haus, A, Florida
Haley Hicklen, GK, Florida
Shannon Kavanagh, M, Florida
Sydney Pirreca, M, Florida
Lindsey Ronbeck, A, Florida
Cara Trombetta, D, Florida
Bridget Whitaker, M, Temple
Julie Blaze, M, Vanderbilt