Jacksonville University

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Jacksonville Dolphins are still dancing into May. JU clinched its spot in the 2026 Atlantic Sun Men's Lacrosse Championship game Sunday after an 18-3 blowout win over the fourth-seeded Mercer Bears.

The Dolphins (9-5, 4-1 ASUN) were led by an eight-point performance by senior attackman Jack Taylor, who scored three goals and provided five assists to lead JU to the championship game.

From the opening whistle, Jacksonville was ready for postseason lacrosse. Fifty-six seconds into the game, sophomore Daylin John-Hill potted his first of four goals to get JU rolling early.

The 2025 ASUN Freshman of the Year got his second of the day, then Taylor potted back-to-back goals to put Jacksonville up four early. Taylor played quarterback to find John-Hill for his hat-trick then senior Nicky Brown for the Dolphins' sixth goal of the day.

Taylor found Brown again attacking right off the second-quarter faceoff, scoring 20 seconds into the quarter. 

Freshman Parker Addison dodged his defender down behind the goal, taking it himself for a solo goal. John-Hill scored his fourth of the day off another Taylor assist. Mercer ended the JU run with a goal, then Taylor found freshman Zane Czeschin for Jacksonville's 10th of the day.

Nursing an eight-goal advantage at the half, Taylor buried a goal of his own off a man-up opportunity. A freshman-to-freshman connection from Addison to Czeschin put Jacksonville up double-digits for the first time. 

After a low scoring third period, the Dolphins put a stamp on the semifinal game to win with authority.

It started with a goal from sophomore long-stick midfielder Lucas Fraser. Sophomore Jack Russo brought the juice in the fourth quarter, relentlessly attacking the Bears till the final whistle. 

He scored three goals in just over three minutes of game action, pushing JU's lead up to 16-2 with less than nine minutes left on the clock. Sophomore Leo Bellanca saw his first career playoff action, scoring the first goal of his college career.

A fourth a final Russo goal later, and the Dolphins were flying their way to an 18-3 win and a place in the ASUN Championship Sunday afternoon.

Game Notes

• This is JU's largest postseason win by margin of victory in program history.
• Three goals allowed is the fewest in a postseason game in program history.
• The Dolphins have allowed four or fewer goals in a game four times this season.
• Taylor tied his career high for single-game points.
• Senior Aaron Toguri eclipsed 100 career ground balls, collecting two in the game.

Head Coach John Galloway
"Really proud of our guys for how they handled the business. Jack Russo continues to impress the staff with his energy and work ethic. We are focused on getting our guys healthy for the opportunity on Sunday to get more time together."

Up Next
The Dolphins will face the three seed Air Force Falcons in Sunday's championship game, a rematch of last season's ASUN Semifinals. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 1 PM at Rock Stadium.