MACON, Ga. --- After eight games at home, the Jacksonville women's lacrosse team hit the road Wednesday, defeating the Mercer Bears 16-14 in a fourth-quarter thriller. The Dolphins have won five-straight games dating back to Feb. 23.
The offense stole the show, especially in the fourth quarter when Jacksonville outscored the Bears 7-3. The Dolphins entered the final period of play trailing by two, but the JU attack quickly took back control of the game.
Junior attacker
Olivia Johnson spearheaded the comeback efforts. All five of her points came in the fourth quarter. Less than two minutes in the quarter, she assisted junior attacker
Ainsley Scruggs to cut the lead to one, then Johnson scored her first of the game after Mercer answered.
She assisted Scruggs again to tie the game at 12 before finding freshman attacker
Shae Hagans who scored to put the 'Phins back in front. Johnson added a second goal of her own with just over three minutes remaining to give JU a decisive two-goal lead late.
Defense set the tone early before making way for the offensive fireworks. The teams ended the first period knotted up at one goal a piece, as neither attack could break through. The Dolphins broke through first in the second, though.
Sophomore attacker
Maeve Brennan cashed in on an extra-woman opportunity, and Scruggs buried another woman-up opportunity under four minutes later. Then sophomore attacker
Maddie Herman took over.Â
She came into the game with authority, scoring a second-quarter hat-trick, her first multi-goal game of the season. Herman scored her final goal of the period to put the Dolphins in front 6-5 at the break.
Senior attacker
Madison Plitt scored less than a minute into the second half, but the Bears answered with a 3-0 run to take the lead. Sophomore midfielder
Jessica Giller tied the game with her second of the night before the teams traded goals. Mercer scored with 93 seconds left in the quarter to take a two-goal lead into the final frame.
The Dolphins found their winning form in the biggest moments. Behind Johnson and Scruggs, JU outscored Mercer by four in the final period, leading by as many as three in the final minutes.
Game Notes
- Johnson and Scruggs each tied career-highs for points in a game with five and six, respectively.
- Brennan recorded three assists for the third consecutive game.
- Giller recorded a season-high three points (2G, 1A).
- JU won the draw control battle 22-11, with junior midfielder Abby Moran leading the team with 14 draw controls.
- Senior midfielder Maddy Orefice finished with a team-high four ground balls and three caused turnovers, both career highs.
- Junior defender Maggie Cuddy finished with three ground balls and two caused turnovers. She's recorded at least three ground balls and two caused turnovers five times this season.
Head Coach Tara Singleton
"Happy to be coming back to Jacksonville with a win on the road against very tough competition. I'm proud of the fight we saw from the squad tonight!"
Up Next
The Dolphins will stay on the road as the ASUN season ramps up. They'll travel back to Georgia to face the Kennesaw State Owls on April 3 at 3 PM.
