Orange and Gators Meet in NCAA Semis

NCAA Tournament Semifinals: Syracuse vs. Florida
Game Details	Friday, May 25 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| 5:30 p.m.
Game Coverage	TV: ESPN3 \| Radio: WJPZ 89.1FM Orange All Access: Audio \| Live Stats Tournament Coverage: Interactive Bracket Twitter: @cuse
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule
Florida Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule

STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Top-ranked teams collide when No. 4 Syracuse takes on No. 1 Florida in the semifinals of the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship on Friday, May 25 at 5:30 p.m. in Stony Brook, N.Y. The Orange (18-3) is making its third appearance in the Final Four in the last five years, while the Gators (19-2) have advanced to the national semifinals for the first time in their history.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN3. Live audio will also be available on Orange All Access.

ORANGE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Syracuse is making its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its third in the national semifinals in the last five years. The Orange has an all-time record of 8-9 in the national tournament. SU is 0-2 in the semifinals, both times losing to the No. 1 seed and the eventual national champion.

SYRACUSE VERSUS NUMBER 1
The Orange has never beaten a team ranked No. 1 in the nation. Syracuse has played the top-ranked squad 15 times in the program's history, including seven meetings in the Carrier Dome. Earlier this season, SU hosted Northwestern when the Wildcats held down the top spot in the polls. Northwestern posted an 11-9 overtime victory in that contest.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORANGE
Junior Michelle Tumolo scored with five seconds remaining to break a 16-16 tie and put Syracuse in the Final Four as the Orange defeated No. 5 North Carolina, 17-16, on Saturday, May 19.

Tumolo's goal capped a late comeback by Syracuse. With the Tar Heels leading 16-14, Tumolo started SU's rally when she put her low shot in the back of the net at the 9:24 mark. Tumolo then found a wide open Kailah Kempney on the crease. Kempney buried her shot to tie the game with 39 seconds remaining.

Kempney won the ensuing draw, which set up Tumolo's game-winner. From the right side, Tumolo went one-on-one with her defender, spun and scored on a bounce shot that sealed the victory with five seconds left on the clock.

Tumolo led the Orange with five points, while sophomore Alyssa Murray had four points to become the third player in school history to record 100 points in a season.

SCOUTING THE GATORS
Florida enters Friday's game on a 15-game winning streak that has improved its record to 19-2. The Gators last loss was a 12-11 setback in double overtime to the Orange on March 3.

Kitty Cullen leads a balanced scoring attack for Florida with 68 points. Gabi Wiegand has tallied a team-best 46 goals, while Cullen and Ashley Bruns have each dished out 23 assists.

Mikey Meagher has started every game in goal for the Gators. She leads the nation in save percentage and has recorded 130 saves this season.

Amanda O'Leary is in her third season at Florida. Previously, O'Leary was the long-time head coach at Yale.

THE SERIES
Friday's game will be the third all-time meeting between Syracuse and Florida. The teams have split the first two meetings, both of which were played in Gainesville.

The squads met earlier this season. The Orange led 6-4 at halftime and went up by three early in the second half. SU led 10-7, but the Gators posted the final three goals of regulation to force overtime.

Both teams scored in the first overtime, forcing a sudden-victory second overtime period. Syracuse won the opening draw, and sophomore Katie Webster scored the game-winner when she found the back of the net with a low bounce shot. It marked the Orange's first win against a team ranked in the top five since 2006.

Syracuse University Athletics

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