via JU press release/website, by Alex Kerstetter

BOX SCORE

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa.- The Jacksonville men’s lacrosse team fell to the Robert Morris Colonials 9-8 in the ASUN tournament on Tuesday afternoon.

JU STAT LEADERS
GOALS – Brandon Galloway (4)
ASSISTS – Ibrahim Pio (2)
GROUNDBALLS – Troy Hettinger (5)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Colonials defense made the difference in what was the opening round of the ASUN tournament. The Dolphins were limited to four goals in the first and second half. Robert Morris nursed a two-goal lead at halftime, and, after adding an additional three in the second half, it was enough to push them into the second round.

Brandon Galloway was a bright spot for the Dolphins offensively. The senior and first team All-ASUN member found net a game-high four times. He was one of only two players in the game to have multiple goals scored and the only one to record a hat trick. He’s now recorded a hat trick in three consecutive games and finishes the year as the team leader with five.

Defensively, Luke Millican started in the cage and recorded 11 saves. For Millican, it was his ninth time this season with at least 10 saves in a game. The Southlake, Texas, native finishes the year as the conference leader in goals-against average as well as save percentage.

Not to be overshadowed was grad student Troy Hettinger’s performance. The ASUN’s Defensive Player of the Year finished with game highs in caused turnovers and ground balls (by field players).

“This isn’t how I thought this season would end, but I refuse to ignore the special team this group was,” said head coach John Galloway. “I also want to make it clear to anyone who reads this that if they didn’t watch, that was the most impressive individual performance by a player in my time as a coach. Troy Hettinger willed us back into the game by himself, and Brandon Galloway followed suit. Our leaders led, but we didn’t make enough plays.”

Tucker Garrity and Max Waldbaum were the other two Dolphins with multiple caused turnovers at two each. Meanwhile, eight players had at least two ground balls.

Entering the fourth quarter down two, the Dolphins climb back into the game got steeper after Robert Morris netted an additional two insurance goals with 8 minutes left. With just over four minutes remaining, Brandon Galloway netted his hattrick for the first goal by a JU player in 15 minutes. Galloway then found net again just 30 seconds later and the comeback was on. A third goal in what was a 93 second span by Ethan LaMond saw Jacksonville down just one with 2:50 remaining.

The Dolphins regained possession in their own half of the field with 38 seconds left and after a successful clear, immediately signaled for a timeout. The team was unable to score one last time and the comeback fell just short.

“While this moment hurts, I will leave this season with an appreciation for a group of men that I never knew could be so strong,” said coach Galloway.

With the 2023 season ending, the Dolphins put together what was the second most successful season in JU history with 12 wins. The team had six players recognized on the annual ALL-ASUN teams and an additional three student-athletes make the All-Academic team. The Dolphins also had seven players win conference player of the week and took down the now #1 nationally ranked Blue Devils in February.