DELAND, Fla. - The Jacksonville women's lacrosse team (3-6, 1-0) pulled off a remarkable comeback in their inaugural conference match of the 2024 season. Despite trailing by as many as six goals, the team leveled the score at 11-11 with just seven minutes remaining in the game. Shortly thereafter, they surged ahead to secure a 13-11 victory over Stetson University (3-5, 0-1). 

SCORING LEADERS  

GOALS: Ainsley Scruggs (4) Lauren Ellis (2)  

GROUND BALLS: Maggie Foster (2) 

DRAW CONTROLS: Abby Moran (5) Kaila Stasulli (4) Maggie Cuddy (5) 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

The first half witnessed balanced scoring from the Dolphin offense, with four players making their mark on the scoreboard. A surprising 5-1 lead for Stetson in the opening quarter initially caught the Dolphins off guard, with senior attacker Brianna Samuels finding the net in the sixth minute of the quarter to open up the scoring for JU. After Stetson's initial scoring burst, they continued to dominate the first 15 minutes, ending with a 4-0 run. 

In the second quarter, the Dolphins came out firing, opening the quarter with a shot and score by Jenna Peed at 9:55, followed by another goal minutes later by Maddie Herman, narrowing Stetson's lead to 6-3 with 6:24 remaining before halftime. With ample time on the clock, the Dolphins weren't done yet as the defense stood firm, holding the Hatters scoreless for the rest of the period. The offense generated momentum with a pivotal goal by Ainsley Scruggs, assisted by Lauren Ellis, heading into halftime. 

Stetson dominated the early portion of the third quarter, but the Dolphins kept things competitive by responding to Stetson's early score with a goal by Maddy Orefice, trimming Stetson's lead to 7-5. Although the Hatters extended their lead to as much as six points in the third quarter, the Dolphins managed to claw their way back, closing the gap to 11-7 thanks to contributions from Lauren Ellis and Mackenzie Boyle, who finished the quarter with consecutive scores. 

The fourth quarter was dominated by the Dolphins as Ellis secured her second goal, while Blakesley added another to the tally. It was the heroic efforts of Ainsley Scruggs that sealed the victory for the Dolphins with an impressive four goals in nine minutes to close out the game.

COACH'S COMMENTS
"Halfway through the 3rd quarter, Ellis sparked our offense and we never looked back," said head coach Tara Singleton. "Critical stops on defense and dominance in the draw battle gave our offense the possessions needed to make the comeback. Scruggs' shots started falling at just the right time, and she led the charge in the last 9 minutes. We really leaned in as a team and found a way to win today!"

UP NEXT 

The Dolphins continue their road trip with a matchup against Towson on Thursday, March 28. The game is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. and will be broadcasted on ESPN+. 

ADDITIONAL NOTES 

• The Dolphins and Hatters tied with 14 ground balls each.
• JU registered four more shots on goal than Stetson. 
• Nine players contributed to the scoring in the game for JU.