JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In the only regular season edition of the 2026 River City Rumble, the Jacksonville Dolphins dropped a nail biter battle to the finish, 2-1, to visiting UNF.
Romain Spailier got the 'Phins aboard in the second half, netting a 1-0 lead off an assist by
Kai Tamashiro. That lead held until an equalizer from the visitors in the 87
th minute. Saturday's game then flipped on its head when UNF scored again in the 89
th minute to move Jacksonville to a 3-2-0, 0-1-0 record.
On the opening weekend of ASUN competition the two rival programs battled to a 0-0 draw at the halftime break. Each team was tied with four shots at the stoppage.
It was Spailier's turn in the second half to open the game wide open with his second goal of the year. Jacksonville held off any UNF attack until the 87
th.
Spailier launched half of the team's two shots on goal, joined by midfielder
Quinten Koster. Koster led the team with two total shots in just eight minutes of play. Jacksonville had seven shots as a team. Tamashiro's assist was his first of the season.
In the net,
Simen Havig made three saves, moving the junior to 12 saves on the year.
Jacksonville had a chance to tie the game once and for all in the final minute of play when UNF was assessed a red card, allowing the home squad to press the visitors with a man advantage.
The 'Phins found themselves with a corner kick with less than 20 seconds remaining. The ball was looped into the box and found the top of Koster's head. It then fluttered towards the UNF net, over the outstretched arms of the keeper but clanked off the top crossbar and fell to the grass as time expired.
Koster's two shots on goal tied his second-best performance of the season.
Jacksonville next travels to the Queen City to face Queens on Saturday, Sep. 12. First kick in Charlotte is set for 6 p.m. The Dolphins are next back at home on Saturday, Sep. 19 against the Lipscomb Bisons for another 6 p.m. kick.
