JACKSONVILLE, FLA – The Jacksonville University women's soccer team hosted Lipscomb in their penultimate home game of the season on Thursday night. The Dolphins
(0-10-3) battled with the Bisons in an equally contested match but fell by a final score of 2-1.
Tonight's game highlighted the talented freshman of the Jacksonville squad.
"All three of the freshmen who are contributing 90 minutes for us right now had their best game of the season. They are going to be here for four years and that experience is going to be vital into next year and the reason of the season", commented Head Coach
Laura Busby.
Senior
Kristian Shores, who is recognized as the
Hodges Mazda Player Of The Game started in goal for her fifth consecutive appearance. Shores came up big for the Dolphins once again to make seven saves on the evening. Before tonight's contest Shores was ranked second in the ASUN for total saves made and fourth in save percentage (.800).
JU recorded a total of 4 shots on goal in the first 45 minutes .Freshman defender
Rachel Walters recorded the first shot in the 27
th minute from the midfield but the ball soared over the hands of the Lipscomb keeper. In the 23
rd minute Shores came out of the box to make a diving save over a Lipscomb forward to keep the game still even. Quickly after in the 21
st minute freshman midfielder
Shelby Brim fired off a shot. Senior midfielder
Kayla Hancock recorded the third shot of the night coming off a free kick for JU but the ball was cleared by the Lipscomb keeper back down the field. Walters, who worked hard for the JU defense brought the ball back into scoring territory to record her 2
nd shot of the night.
Jacksonville and Lipscomb entered scoreless.
After halftime JU returned to the field with a sense of urgency to score first and recorded five more shots on goal. Sophomore forward
Madison Taylor got her first shot off in the 50
th minute, freshman forward
Olivia Abdallah followed shortly after to put up two more for the Dolphins, and junior midfielder
Lauren Caffee trailed not far behind to attempt another for the home team.
Scoring opened up in the 85
th minute when Molly Grant recorded two quick goals for Lipscomb, assisted by Olivia Doak and Maycie McKay.
JU answered back quickly in the 87
th minute as Abdallah recorded the lone goal of the evening for the home team with the assist from freshman midfielder
Lola Negrete after a corner kick. Jacksonville and Lipscomb ended in a final score of 2-1.
"I am proud of them. They came in and battled for 90 minutes and that is all I can ask for. These girls do their best that they possibly can for one another," Busby Concluded.
The Dolphins will finish off the week with their final home game of the season on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m, Prior to the start of that game the team will honor its six seniors,
Danielle Henry,
Kristian Shores,
Kacie Patterson,
Maya Fisher,
Rachel Henry, and
Zoe Zinis.
