USAF Academy, Colo. --- When freshman
Zane Czeschin's fourth goal hit the back of the net, it was more than just a late goal in a six-goal win for the visitors. It was a piece of history, though not for the man who scored.
The assister on the play, senior
Nicky Brown, had one of the most productive games in Jacksonville history, tying the school record with 11 points. He scored four goals and tied the school record with seven assists.
All of those points fueled Jacksonville to a commanding 16-10 win over the Air Force Falcons to open the conference season. The Dolphins (5-4, 1-0 ASUN) scored 12 goals in the first half, taking a commanding lead that would last the rest of the way.
Jacksonville started fast on offense, with Czeschin going right to goal for the opener 29 seconds into the game.
The Dolphins were lethal in early offense in the first half, pinging the ball around the offensive zone for wide-open goals. Less than a minute after their opener, the ball swung through the offense, with Brown finding senior
Jack Taylor a dunk on the doorstep.
Jacksonville had a nearly identical goal a few minutes later, this time Brown found junior Will Krupsky cutting to the crease for the finish. Czeschin made it a first-quarter hat-trick with a pair of long-range lasers, peppering the net with powerful lefty rips.
After Air Force got its first tally of the day, the Dolphin earned a man-up opportunity late in the period. Taylor scanned the field from up top, ripping a skip pass to Brown for an easy finish on the doorstep.
The Falcons struck first in the second, but the Dolphins were right back to their offensive best soon after. Sophomore
Daylin John-Hill caught the Air Force defense slipping, stepping into a wide-open goal from range.
Jacksonville's ball movement had the Falcons spinning, and Brown found Taylor slipping wide open on the crease for another JU goal. Czeschin fired a pass across the front of goal to Brown who put it past the goalie with a diving effort, completing his hat trick.
The Dolphins broke free in the open field and Brown sprayed it out to senior
Breyden Harrison who hammered home another breakaway goal for JU. Brown stayed hot, taking it himself at goal-line extended with a tight finish at the near pipe.
Taylor dodged down the alley and flipped the ball to Brown who fired a picture-perfect jump shot to close out a five-point second quarter and give JU a 12-3 halftime lead.
The second half started much the same way, as the Dolphins worked the ball around the perimeter before Brown found John-Hill for an outside hammer. Taylor notched another extra-man assist, skipping it to sophomore
Connor Sydnor on the backside pipe for a dunk.
The Dolphins offense cooled off after that as the Falcons rallied to close the deficit. Air Force cut the lead as low as five in the fourth quarter before Czeschin's final goal ensured no late rally would be enough.
Game Notes
- Brown is the third player to score double-digit points in a single game, joining Jacob Greiner (twice) and Tom Moore.
- Taylor finished with seven points (3G, 4A), tying a season high. He's had at least three points in every game this season.
- Czeschin set a new career high with five points (4G, 1A). He also tied a career high with three ground balls.
- The Dolphins won 20 of the 30 faceoffs in the game.
Head Coach John Galloway
"Today was certainly a tale of two halves. I thought our guys came out with great urgency and purpose. Offensively,
Zane Czeschin,
Jack Taylor and
Nicky Brown built a lead that would be tough to fight back from. Our faceoff duo of
Drew Rippeon and
Sean Hassis allowed us to stack possessions. We came out a bit flat in 2nd half, and that will allow us to challenge this group. It is our commitment to accept criticism and chase growth, and we will do that starting Monday."
Up Next
The Dolphins return home to host the Queens Royals Saturday, April 4 at noon.
