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JU: High-Powered Offense, Solid Defense Leads WLAX in 19-9 Season Opener Over UC Davis

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in , , , .
  via JU press release   BOX SCORE   JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The reigning ASUN Conference Champions continued its hot streak into 2019 as the Jacksonville University women’s lacrosse team downed UC Davis, 19-9, Friday afternoon at D.B. Milne Field. “Our attack was very patient early in the game and worked the clock and transition game at various times today. We had some first game jitters in our shots and some missed opportunities on the draw and ground ball games, but the team played hard and focused for 60 minutes,” stated Head Coach Mindy McCord following the win. A standout performance from freshman goalie Dayna Martinetto added confidence in the backfield as the Manorville, N.Y. native posted five saves, four ground balls, and caused four turnovers in her first career win. Added McCord, “Our defense forced 25 turnovers and we committed just 10. [Dayna Martinetto] was a huge factor today and disruptive [to UC Davis’ offense].” With nine players recording at least one goal, the Dolphins dominated from the opening draw to the final whistle. Led by sophomore Jenny Kinsey‘s four-goal performance, JU’s offense was powered by hat tricks from junior transfers McKenna Rushford and Alexis Deaken, along with two goals each from sophomore Alyssa Arnold (2 goals, 1 assist), redshirt-freshman Julia Kolderman, and senior captain Lillie Miller. “Kinsey is playing out of this world, and Deaken and Rushford are special players. We showed that if you take a couple players out of the equation, we still have lots of options to attack with,” stated McCord.  “Kolderman off the bench was outstanding and our team ride was strong; we hang our hat on that.” Jacksonville won the ground ball battle, 18-14, and turned the ball over just 10 times compared to the Aggies’ 26. Though the West Coast foes controlled the draw game, 18-11, Jacksonville outshot UC Davis 52-22 in the teams’ inaugural meeting. A five-goal run through the first 15 minutes of the game quickly showed fans why the Dolphins broke their own NCAA scoring record last season. Deaken broke open scoring just 46 seconds into the game, followed by a man-up goal from the eight-meter line by Rushford. The Aggies answered back, taking advantage of its own extra-man opportunity, but the Dolphins’ recorded the next five, including two from Kinsey. Just over halfway through the first half, UC Davis found the back of the net for the second time to make it 7-2, but it wasn’t long before back-to-back unassisted tallies from Miller (8:48) and Kinsey (8:16) and a man-down goal from Rushford (2:24) sent the Dolphins into halftime with a convincing lead, 11-4. Coming out of the intermission, UC Davis pressured the Dolphins and matched JU goal-for-goal in the opening minutes to bring the score within six, 13-7. That pressure was enough to spark the Dolphins for the next 11 minutes en route to a six-goal run to lead 19-7 with 9:08 remaining. The Aggies notched a pair of goals in the final 6:36, but it was too little, too late as the Dolphins cruised in their season opener, 19-9. Jacksonville heads to the West Coast next weekend with matchups at Oregon (Feb. 22) and Southern California (Feb. 24).  

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