JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Jacksonville women's lacrosse team dominated the Queens Royals 21-10 in a Senior Day victory at Rock Stadium. Twenty-one goals is the most for JU since defeating Gardner-Webb 21-4.
The win served as a celebration for Jacksonville's senior class:
Maddy Orefice,
Natalie Pansini,
Kaila Stasulli,
Brynn Hoffman,
Bailey Broadbent,
Madison Plitt and
Brooke Demaggio.
"It's a perfect way to celebrate our special leaders on this team with an awesome win," head coach
Tara Singleton said.
The win started at the draw circle, as junior midfielder
Abby Moran made history on the draw. She won a school record 20 draws, and in the process set the new single-season school record for draw control wins with 137 DCs.
"I wish I could explain the power that she has at that draw, but I truly believe it's heart and dedication," Singleton said. "We're so lucky that she's a dolphin."
The offense was led by junior attacker
Ainsley Scruggs who finished with six points (3G, 3A), tying a career high. Sophomore attacker
Maeve Brennan also tied a career high, finishing with five points (3G, 2A).
Six Dolphins finished with at least three points, and 13 different players finished with at least one point.
Jacksonville started fast with three goals in the first five minutes. Sophomore
Allyx Berry fired a rocket from a free-position shot to open the scoring, then freshman attacker
Shae Hagans and sophomore midfielder
Jessica Giller joined the scoring.
Queens answered with a two-goal run, but Brennan and Hagans answered right back for the Dolphins. After the Royals scored again, Scruggs fired the ball near the crease, and Hagans' outstretched stick deflected the ball just enough to trickle past the net-minder.
Jacksonville rode that momentum into the second quarter, scoring four goals in the first five minutes to cap a 5-0 Dolphins run. Giller scored a pair of gritty goals, while Plitt and Scruggs added to their season tally as well.
A Queens goal was a brief respite from the Jacksonville tidal wave. Junior attacker
Brigid Manning cashed in on a free-position attempt, then sophomore attacker
Maddie Herman put her defender in a spin cycle for another JU goal.
Orefice and sophomore midfielder
Ruby Lynch added goals to give Jacksonville a commanding 14-4 lead at the break.
The scoring continued in the second half, as Stasulli capped off her senior day with her second goal of the season. Queens rallied with three goals to close the period. The Dolphins came out firing in the fourth quarter, though, adding six more goals.
Scruggs scored first before Plitt found junior attacker
Olivia Johnson for a finish on the crease. Brennan added a pair of man-up goals to put Jacksonville back up 10 after a brief Royals run.
Sophomore midfielder
Gabby Hendricks scored her second of the season, and Scruggs finished the scoring with her third of the day.
Game Notes
- Jacksonville remains unbeaten in ASUN play this season.
- Hagans, Brennan, Scruggs and Giller all finished with hat tricks.
- The Dolphins held Queens to 10 goals, the fifth time JU has held an opponent to 10 goals or fewer this season.
- Jacksonville won the draw control battle 28-6.
Head Coach Tara Singleton
"I am really happy to celebrate these seniors with a win. We came out strong, firing on a lot of cylinders, really disciplined defensively, and that put us in a space to be able to capture a lead and maintain it.
We are really senior heavy on our defensive end, and that is a space that certainly we wanted to be dialed and locked in. I really feel like they did a great job for the most part. It's a perfect way to celebrate our special leaders on this team with an awesome win."
Up Next
The Dolphins will hit the road this week to face the reigning ASUN Tournament Champions, Coastal Carolina. Opening draw is set for Thursday at 4 PM.
