JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University men's soccer team (5-4-1) completed the season sweep of Stetson (1-5-2) on Saturday night when it rolled past the Hatters, 3-0, to earn a decisive victory in the opening round of the ASUN Men's Soccer Championship. The Dolphins advance and have earned the right to host semifinal and championship matches at Southern Oak Stadium next week.
For the second-straight game, the Dolphins scored relatively early and in doing so, set the pace of the match.
Jake Johnson collected a feed from
Olivier Correa in the 16th minute at the top of the box and ripped home a pure strike that the Stetson goalkeeper and no chance to deflect. It was a great time for the first goal of the season for Johnson. JU controlled the pace from there.
With just seconds remaining in the first half the Dolphins held possession and could have run out the clock to go into halftime with a 1-0 lead. Instead,
Alex Salvador made an aggressive run down the left side and cut back to find Correa in the center to who a couple dribbles and fired against the grain past into the back of the net to put the Dolphins ahead, 2-0, at the break. Correa's fourth goal of the season was his third opposite the Hatters.
Reed Davis, the ASUN's leading scorer, was knocking on the door throughout the game. He put three shots on frame of his six tries but was stymied until the 69th minute when
Cao Chaves served him from the left side. Davis gathered the pass with his right and fired a shot with his left that zipped home to make it a 3-0 game: his fifth score of the year.
Matt Levy made four saves in net to secure his fifth clean sheet against an ASUN opponent this season and third opposite Stetson. The Dolphins still have not allowed a goal at Southern Oak Stadium to an ASUN foe in four games this season and have not surrendered a goal at home since Feb. 21.
The Dolphins will now prepare to square up opposite the No. 2 seed in the North Division of the ASUN, Lipscomb. The Bisons knocked off Liberty on Saturday, 2-0. JU will host both semifinal matchups at Southern Oak Stadium on Thursday, Apr. 15 at 4:05 and 7:05 p.m. EST. Jacksonville will square up with Lipscomb at 7:05 p.m. The Championship match will take place on Saturday, Apr. 17.