Game 12

Mercer (4-7, 2-3 Southern Conference) at Jacksonville (3-8, 1-4)
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Jacksonville, Fla., 1 p.m.

ESPN3

Leading Scorers

Jacksonville: Shawn Ewert, So., A (7 goals, 19 assists, 26 points)

                       Dakota Rohlin, Sr., M (18 goals, 7 assists, 25 points)

                Lucas Wittenberg, Fr., M (9 goals, 10 assists, 19 points)

Goalies

Jacksonville: Ben Gleichenhaus, So., 152 saves, 125 goals against, 3-8 record

Mercer: Mike Nugent, Sr., 117 saves, 121 goals against, 4-7 record

"Both programs started about the same time and there's a natural rivalry in that and they are the closest school to us in Division I,'' JU head coach Guy Van Arsdale said. "We recruit along the same lines and there have been some good games the last couple of years.''

In addition to the distance and program age, Van Arsdale and Mercer coach Kyle Hannan go back a ways.

"He is a long-time good friend,'' Van Arsdale said. "He's a terrific coach and that adds a little spice to the whole rivalry.''

The Dolphins are winding down their regular season with a pair of home games, the Mercer game and next week against ninth-ranked Air Force.

"We're excited to play. It's a big game for us and we love playing at home,'' Van Arsdale said. "Our guys recognize this past weekend (a 14-10 loss at High Point) they prepared well and played well and played hard and came up short. I think they're ready to come up on the other end of things.''

Van Arsdale said his team is a little frustrated by its hard work not translating to wins but the players keep bouncing back.

"Everybody's a little frustrated from time to time,'' he said. "You feel like a bounce here or a bounce there and if things certain things go your way things would be different. But they handle it with real character. They're still having fun and there's good energy at practice.''

Saturday's game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN3.