Vols Find Groove in Second Half Thriller Box Score
Feb. 27, 2011 The University of Tennessee Men’s Lacrosse team followed their match up against FSU by travelling to Gainesville, Fl. for their game against the University of Florida. Disregarding the tough loss to FSU, the Volunteers were focus for their rivalry game against the Gators.
Great weather was a set the stage for a game that was a close, hard fought matchup between these two SELC opponents. The first quarter began with both offenses controlling the ball until Florida struck first midway through taking a 1-0 lead. Tennessee tied the game as they took advantage of their clearing abilities when junior defenseman Mike Kinsey (Franklin, Tenn.-Ravenwood) found junior attackmen Chris McDonald (Germantown, Tenn.-Houston) on the breakaway. Florida scored once more before the quarter ended giving them a 2-1 lead after one.
Florida kept their foot on the pedal as they opened up the second quarter with a quick score on their first offensive set. The Gators continued their attack as they scored their fourth goal of the game on a fast break putting the Vols down by three. Halfway into the quarter however things began to go Tennessee’s way as junior midfielder John Ellis Porter (Franklin, Tenn.- Franklin) found freshman attackmen David Fluharty (Millsboro, DE- Sussex Tech) who slapped shot the ball into the goal after it was knocked loose. Only minutes later sophomore Tray Harrell (Marietta, GA-Kell HS) found Fluharty again as he fired an outside shot past Florida’s goalie. The half ended with Florida leading 4-3 and the Vols needing to come up with a big second half.
Tennessee did just that as they started the third quarter playing with more purpose than they had all afternoon. After a scuffle between the two teams early on, Porter scored for the Vols’ extra man offense to tie the game at four. Fluharty continued to add points as he found senior midfielder Brett Harper (Knoxville, Tenn.-Farragut) giving Tennessee earning its first lead of the day. The defense continued to hold strong, denying Florida to run any fluid offense and before long Porter scored his second goal on a fake flip as he wrapped around the goal. Florida had taken three straight punches, but the Gators were able to cut Tennessee’s lead down to one before the quarter ended.
Florida took that momentum into the fourth quarter as they scored to tie the game at six. The game then became a struggle to see who could score the next goal to take a lead would seemingly be insurmountable. Both defenses fought hard to stop the opposing offenses as goals were close, but never scored. That remained the case until junior midfield Woody Kidd (Burke, VA- Lake Braddock Secondary) found a streaking Fluharty down the right side as he lifted up and ripped a shot into the goal. Junior goalie David Catterton (Brentwood, Tenn.-Brentwood) made one last great save against a Florida fast break as the last second ticked off, preserving the Volunteers 7-6 victory.
Tennessee left Florida 1-1 and once more returned their season record to .500 at 2-2.
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