JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Jacksonville Dolphins fell to the Navy Midshipmen 10-9 in an overtime thriller at Rock Stadium. The Dolphins and Midshipmen were tied at the end of every quarter, before the visitors pulled away with the win in the extra period.

Jacksonville (3-4) was led by senior Jack Taylor who scored two goals and provided three assists. Nine different players registered a point for JU on the day.

The game was a defensive battle the entire night, with the teams combining for under 50 shots on goal. 

The Dolphins got on the board, with junior Henry Fleckner putting away the first of Taylor's three assists. Just over a minute later, junior William Krupsky dunked home a feed from freshman Zane Czeschin by the crease to put Jacksonville up 2-0 early.

JU put five shots on the board the rest of the quarter, but the Midshipmen kept the Dolphins at bay. Navy tied the game at two after a goal in the dying seconds of the quarter on a breakaway.

Jacksonville got rolling early in the second, with senior Tate Jones putting away a crisp feed from Taylor. That proved to be one of just two goals scored by either team in the second quarter. Blocked shots and saves abound kept either offense off the scoresheet until Navy tied the game at three with under two minutes left in the half. 

The teams stayed knotted at three until a mini two-goal run from the Midshipmen put the visitors up 5-3 less than five minutes into the half. 

Taylor and the Dolphins would answer, with the senior attacker getting to goal for the home side. Jacksonville drew a penalty and set-up a picture perfect extra-man set. The ball swung around the offense until sophomore Connor Sydnor fed Krupsky on the high crease for a wide-open goal.

Navy re-took the lead, but then Jacksonville answered with a breakaway goal from sophomore long-stick midfielder Lucas Fraser. The teams took a 6-6 deadlock into the final quarter of regulation.

The Midshipmen ripped off two less than five minutes apart to take an 8-6 lead with under 10 minutes on the clock. Zcheschin got the first goal back, taking a pass from Taylor and ripping a perfect jump shot past the goalie.

Sophomore Daylin John-Hill scanned the field from the low lefty wing, slicing a cross-crease feed to senior Nicky Brown for a step-down finish. Tie game, 8-8.

Nearly five minutes of game time expired before a team could break the deadlock, neither defense wilting an inch. After forcing a turnover, the Dolphins called timeout to set up a potential game-winning play.

Jacksonville called up on the stick of Taylor to get it done. Taylor dodged from behind the goal, peaking above goal-line extended and firing a backhand shot to fool the goalie and put the Dolphins in front with under a minute to play.

Navy wouldn't go quietly, though, tying the game with just 15 seconds left to play in regulation. In overtime, the Dolphins won the opening faceoff, but the Midshipmen would score a transition goal to take the game, 10-9.

Game Notes

• Taylor has recorded at least five points in three-straight games.
• The Dolphins held Navy to its joint second lowest goal tally this season.
• This was Jacksonville's first night game at Rock Stadium since hosting No. 13 Michigan on Feb. 27, 2023.

Head Coach John Galloway
"Obviously, today was a heartbreaking loss. I don't have any good words that will make it feel better, but I am really thankful for our university for supporting an event like this. It was a great college lacrosse atmosphere. I am proud of our team and determined to help them achieve their goals. I really love our group and know we won't back down from this moment to grow."

Up Next
The Dolphins will travel north to face the NJIT Highlanders this Saturday. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 1 PM.