ANNAPOLIS, Md. --- The Jacksonville Dolphins played their first ranked opponent of the season, battling the No. 5 Navy Midshipmen. JU battled hard, ultimately falling 13-10 at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
The Dolphins (4-2) had three players with at least two goals. Junior
Maeve Brennan led the team in total points, scoring two goals and providing two assists.Â
Jacksonville jumped on the Midshipmen in the first quarter. Brennan put JU up with the first goal of the day. After Navy tied it at one, senior
Ainsley Scruggs flipped the ball to sophomore
Shae Hagans who spun inside and scored.Â
The Midshipmen tied the game at two, but junior
Allyx Berry gave the Dolphins a 3-2, finishing off an extra-man opportunity.
Navy flipped the script in the second, outscoring JU 5-2 to take a halftime lead. Junior
Julia Nicholson scored on a free-position opportunity, and freshman Paige Garguillo capitalized off an assist from senior
Olivia Johnson to keep the Dolphins in the fight.
Berry got the third quarter started hot with a goal, cutting the score to 7-6. With under eight minutes to play in the period, Nicholson potted a goal off of a Brennan feed. Nearly two minutes later, Brennan took it herself to tie the game at eight.
The Midshipmen scored twice to close the quarter, taking a two-goal lead into the final quarter.
Scruggs turned into a superstar at the start of the fourth quarter. She collected the ball off the end line after a wide shot, going to goal and potting a goal past the net-minder.
The Dolphins moved the ball around on an extra-man opportunity, swinging the ball to Scruggs. She charged to the goal and fired a shot at the net. The shot hit off the goalie, and seemingly was stopped on the line.
However, the play was reviewed and the ball just crossed the line, tying the game at 10 in the fourth quarter.
The Midshipmen offense would close out the game with three-straight goals, securing a win for Navy on home turf.
Game Notes
- The Dolphins have scored double-digit goals in every game this season.
- Brennan has recorded at least four points in three of the Dolphins' six games this season.
- Senior defender Courtney Quirk set a season high with two caused turnovers.
Up Next
The Dolphins will return to Rock Stadium next Thursday, March 19th for the start of conference play against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers for the ASUN season opener. Opening draw is scheduled for noon.