JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- For the second time this season, Jacksonville graduate student goalie Ryan Della Rocco has been named the Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Week. He joins teammate Drew Rippeon as two-time winners of the award this season.

Della Rocco turned in another magisterial performance between the pipes for Jacksonville. In a 17-7 win over Mercer, Della Rocco made 14 saves at 73.7%. He held the hosts to just five goals allowed on the day, adding to his sparkling goals against average for the year.

Through the 13-game regular season, Della Rocco has posted a 7.63 GAA --- the best mark in the entire country. His 58.4% save rate is Top 10 nationally. 

He's allowed five or fewer goals in six games this season, and he's allowed single digit goals eight times this season. He's finished with double-digit goals six times this season, stopping at least 60% of shots faced in six games.

He leads the ASUN Conference in GAA and save percentage. In league play, he's been impenetrable. He's allowed a GAA of 6.03 in ASUN competition, saving 66.3% of shots faced.

Della Rocco hit a historic milestone in the win over the Bears. He eclipsed the 500 save mark, becoming the second player in school history to record 500 or more saves.

He previously earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after a 15-save performance against then-No. 6 North Carolina on Feb. 7. In addition to his two ASUN weekly honors, he was named to the USILA Team of the Week for his performance against Queens on Apr. 4.

In that game, Della Rocco allowed just one goal, the fewest given up in a game in school history. He made 10 saves for a 90.9% save rate on the day to earn a place in the national team of the week.

Della Rocco and the Dolphins will chase their first ASUN Tournament championship starting this Friday against the fourth-seeded Mercer Bears. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 3 PM.