Baltimore – Georgia Latch (6 goals, 3 assists) had a career day for the No. 8 Loyola University Maryland women's lacrosse team on Saturday afternoon, as the Greyhounds pulled away from No. 10 Florida University in the second half to win the season opener, 18-10.
 
Georgia Latch scored a career-high 6 goals on the afternoon, while matching a career-high with 9 points on Saturday. Chase Boyle had a career-high three assists on the day, to go along with two goals.
 
Sydni Black had four first half goals, while Anna Ruby scored a hat-trick in the third quarter.
 
The Gators (0-1 overall) got out to a fast start, jumping out to a 2-0 lead after a pair of free-position goals. Georgia Latch and Sydni Black answered with back-to-back unassisted goals to tie the game at the 10:37 mark.
 
After another pair of Florida goals, Chase Boyle found a cutting Catie Corolla for the quick shot in front of net for the goal with 1:04 remaining in the first quarter. With this assist, Boyle eclipsed the 100 career points mark.
 
Florida and Loyola exchanged player-up goals to begin the second quarter, before Sydni Black scored her second goal of the day at the 9:09 mark, as she blew past her defender before tip-toeing the crease for the goal to tie it up at 5-5.
 
Maggi Hall scored her fourth goal of the half for Florida at the 7:09 mark in the second quarter for Florida, this one on a assist from Madison Waters. The Greyhounds responded just 30 seconds later, as Latch found Black for her fourth goal of the half.
 
Latch scored her second goal of the game with 3:11 left in the first half, unassisted, as teams went into halftime tied, 8-8.
 
Coming out of halftime, Loyola started fast, as Latch scored just 31 seconds into the half. Anna Ruby followed just a minute later with her first goal of the game, as she made a move on her defender, and shot high-to-low for the goal.
 
Ruby followed it up with spinning shot she whipped past the goalie, as the Greyhounds took a 11-8 lead.
 
After a Florida goal, Latch responded with a personal 2-0 run, to extend the lead to four goals.
 
The Greyhounds offense was humming in the third quarter, as they went on to outscore the Gators 3-1 over the last four minutes of the quarter, as they led 16-10 going into the fourth. Latch and Ruby each had three goals in the third.
 
In the fourth quarter, Loyola's defense came up big, shutting down the Gators' offense, and limiting them to just six shots, two on goal, and no goals.
The Greyhounds were efficient on the offensive end, converting 18 of their 30 (60 percent) shots on the day, while holding Florida to 10 for 25 (40 percent).
 
Loyola also held the edge on the draw circle, holding the edge 20-11, including a 9-4 difference in the second half. Loyola also forced 21 Florida turnovers on the afternoon.
 
Lauren Spence had two of her four saves on the afternoon in the fourth quarter to maintain the win.
 
Spence had a team-high six ground balls on the afternoon, while Sydni Black had three caused turnovers to go along with her five-point game.
 
Logan Olmstead, Ellie Rinehart, and Blake Cunneen had two caused turnovers a piece. Chase Boyle tallied 9 draw controls, while Black (6) and Latch (4) also contributed in the circle.
 
The Greyhounds will begin Patriot League play on Friday, February 16 as they travel to play American at 1:00 PM.