Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Rachel Aus scored just 50 seconds into the game which set the tone as Jacksonville University's women's lacrosse team won its fourth consecutive game, 20-5, over Iona at D.B. Milne Field Saturday.
Aus' goal came on an assist from junior Danielle Della Rocca and Aus followed up less than a minute later as the Dolphins (4-3) built a quick 4-0 lead before moving to a 12-4 halftime advantage. JU scored eight times in the second half as 13 different players had goals.
The Dolphin draw control and defense held the Gaels (3-4) to but five shots and a single goal in the second half.
After Aus' goals, Della Rocca fired away and had four goals and three assists on the day. Midfielder Jaime Chapman, Ashtyn Hiron and McEllen McDonough each had two scores while Taylor McCord, Kirstin Purdy, Hannah Wilcox, Jody Julmice, Caitlin McMahon, Lillie Miller and Kerri Clayton made sure the scoring parade didn't stop.
"It's a lot easier when everyone else is getting on the board because it's equal distribution and everyone's really involved in the game,'' Della Rocca, the team's leading goal scorer with 17, said. "When we all are having a good game we all play together.''
JU coach Mindy McCord agreed.
"When we have that kind of distribution, it's because we're working together as a team and we're running our game plan,'' McCord said. "When teams try to take something away, another person steps up and it opens opportunities. Our offense should have that kind of distribution if players follow the game plan.
"I feel like we got back to our run and gun game, we did well in the transition and the draw and we executed on attack.''
McCord also was pleased by how stingy the Dolphins were in the second half.
"They had that one goals in the second half and that's because we got the draw a lot and possessed the ball a lot,'' she said.
JU also was 17-for-17 on clear attempts and winning goalie Kaylyn Kearns had seven saves.
Della Rocca said she senses the team has turned the corner from an 0-3 start.
"The beginning of the season was a little rough for us but we're really coming together now,'' she said. "It's nice when everyone can get in on the scoring and not just one person have five goals.''
JU now plays four games on the road starting with a trip to 10/11th-ranked Stony Brook Thursday at 7 p.m.