CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. --- For the first time ever, Jacksonville shipped up to Clarksville with lacrosse equipment in tow. The Dolphins dominated the first match-up in the new ASUN series, taking down the Austin Peay Governors 21-5 Saturday afternoon.

Jacksonville (9-4, 5-1 ASUN) was led by junior Maeve Brennan's team-high five points (4G, 1A), but the strength of the day was the balance on the scoresheet. Sixteen different Dolphins recorded at least one point on the day as JU recorded its highest-scoring day this season.

The Dolphins started red-hot in the first quarter, scoring four goals in the first five minutes of game action. Senior Ainsley Scruggs got it going first before the river of JU goals got rolling. Brennan found junior Julia Nicholson for a tally, then senior Olivia Johnson finished a chance from sophomore Shae Hagans. 

Hagans scored one of her own on the player-up to cap off the early run for JU.

The Governors responded with two goals bookending a finish from Jacksonville junior Allyx Berry. After the second Austin Peay goal, it was all JU the rest of the first half.

The Dolphins closed the half on a 7-0 scoring run to take a commanding 12-2 lead into the half. Jacksonville scored a flurry of goals late in the first quarter, starting with a short-handed effort from Brennan.

Once again playing a player light, junior Maddie Herman got to goal for a JU goal. Hagans buried a chance with under a minute to play to close the first quarter. Junior Jessica Giller took over in the second quarter, recording a point on three of Jacksonville's four goals.

Freshman Paige Garguilo finished off a Giller assist, then Berry turned quarterback on the player-up. She dished back-to-back extra-player assists, finding Giller then Brennan for goals. Giller found Garguilo again to close the half. 

Giller found Brennan for another goal 54 seconds into the second half to keep the foot on the gas for JU. Austin Peay ended the eight-goal Jacksonville run, but the Dolphins had a response ready. 

Brennan scored another goal on the player-up before Herman potted her first. Junior Gabby Hendricks scored her first goal of the season --- a theme the rest of the game. After another Govs goal, sophomore Chloe Luther got her first of the day to give JU a 17-4 lead with a quarter to play.

Austin Peay scored first in the final period of play, then the Dolphins closed the game with four more tallies. Luther capped off her first multi-goal day, then Nicholson got her second of the day soon after.

The game ended with a pair of first college points. Freshman Kendall Carcaterra put a free-position shot, then with nine seconds on the clock, sophomore Emerson Symonds put one in the back of the to close the game.

Game Notes

• JU's 21 goals are the program's most in a game since scoring 22 against Coastal Carolina last spring (04/17/25).
• Berry's four points (1G, 3A) are a new season high.
• Brennan has had at least five points in each of the last three games. She's averaging 4.38 points per game this season.

Head Coach Tara Singleton
"Great team effort in today's win. Sixteen assisted goals, double digit caused turnovers and a bunch of first time point producers is everything you could want in a conference road game."

Up Next
The Dolphins will face the Florida Gators in an annual Sunshine State showdown. Opening draw is scheduled for 4 PM from UF's Dizney Stadium.