JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With three program records set, the Jacksonville University men's lacrosse team closed out their home schedule in style and clinched a spot in the 2019 Southern Conference Tournament with an 11-10 win over Southern Conference foe Furman, Saturday afternoon at D.B. Milne Field. With a 4-2 record in the league, the Dolphins clinched a spot in the SoCon Tournament.
 
"Today was a special one for our seven young men who played their last game on D.B. Milne Field. Emotionally, it is very difficult to ignore the distractions of Senior Day and handle your business. Our guys came out firing to make sure this memory was a special one," commented head coach John Galloway following the Dolphins' win.
 
It was a very special game for senior captain Eric Applegate, who recorded seven points on two goals and a career-high five assists to become the Dolphins' all-time leading points scorer and all-time assist leader with 140 and 71, respectively. Surpassing Cameron Mann '13 in both categories, Applegate's five assists also rank third all-time in a single game.
 
A third school record was set – this one by redshirt-junior captain Evan Tyler – whose two goals gave him 31 on the year, surpassing Ryan Serville's 30 set in 2010.
 
A fourth record neared its demise as junior Alex Giovinco posted a career-high day at the face off X, as he won 19-of-26 and picked up 16 ground balls to help the Dolphins gain possessions on the restart. His 16 ground balls tied for second all-time in a single-game in program history and are just two off Hunter Forbes '18 record of 18, set last season.
 
With five unanswered goals to start the game, the Dolphins (5-8, 4- SoCon), Applegate wasted no time setting to the task at hand, as the Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. native assisted on three goals to take over the career assists record and tie the career points record. Junior Jack Dolan (2 goals) and sophomore Jeremy Winston (1 goal, 1 assist) chipped in two points apiece in the first to lift JU to a 5-0 lead at the first break.
 
Recording the final goal in the second quarter with 1:55 on the clock, Applegate became the Dolphins' all-time points leader, though the Paladins outpaced Jacksonville, 4-2, to come within three at halftime, 7-4.
 
Both teams posted a goal in the third quarter, with Furman's Chad Kreuzer bringing the game within two at the 12:19 mark. Controversy arose halfway through the quarter as a Paladin was ejected with 8:20 on the clock following a late body check to Applegate after a whistle. Though the visitors were a man down for three minutes, Winston tallied his third point of the day with 52 seconds remaining to preserve the Dolphins' three-goal lead, 8-5, heading into the final 15 minutes.
 
Jarrett Birch looked to be the Paladins' saving grace in the final quarter, with a pair of goals just 30 seconds (13:54, 13:24). However, Applegate had a hand in all three of Jacksonville's fourth-quarter goals. As Furman tied the game at 9 with 7:01 on the clock, Applegate notched his second goal (6:20) and dished his fifth assist of the day to freshman Logan Posner (5:29) to lift JU to a two-goal lead. That proved to be enough, despite Furman finding the back of the goal one last time at 2:24, as the Dolphins held on for their fourth win in the SoCon this season.
 
Added Galloway, "We didn't handle ourselves emotionally in the second half, but we never wilted. Our sidelines stayed in the moment and when we needed it, our senior leader Eric Applegate came through. With two goals and five assists, Eric became the career leader in JU history for points and assists. His mark will now forever be left on this program," added Galloway.
 
"Alex Giovinco was fantastic at the X, allowing us to even the possessions after running into a hot Furman goaltender. We will enjoy this one tonight and lock our attention on a talented Mercer team next weekend. I am just excited we have another week with this group to get better. These guys aren't done improving, and we will come in Monday excited to be together again."
 
Kreuzer led Furman with four points, while goalie Alec Van de Bovenkamp recorded 19 saves in the loss.
 
The Dolphins close out the regular season next Saturday, April 27 at Mercer. Opening faceoff is set for 3 p.m.