Skip to main content

JU Men’s Lacrosse Leads Wire to Wire in Win Against Marist

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in , , , .

via JU press release/website, by Alex Kerstetter

BOX SCORE

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The Jacksonville men’s lacrosse team won in convincing fashion against Marist College on Saturday, 13-5.

JU STAT LEADERS

GOALS – Dylan Watson (4)
ASSISTS – Brandon GallowayJacob Greiner (2)
GROUNDBALLS – Zack Deaken (6)

HOW IT HAPPENED

On what was a beautiful day for lacrosse, the Dolphins struck early through Dylan Watson, who took a pass from JU point-leader Brandon Galloway just two minutes into the half, and JU never looked back. Gavin Angell followed up with his first collegiate goal six minutes later, and the Watson-Galloway combo struck again at 4:46 to give the Dolphins the early 3-0 lead. Marist used a Joshua Balcarecel goal with 45 seconds left to get on the board, but Jacksonville had a two goal edge at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter started at a slower pace offensively with both sides finding the back of the net for nearly nine minutes. Watson again ripped a shot into the cage for his first hattrick since joining JU. Brenan Mckenna and Galloway consequently found the goal in the next two minutes. Marist scored with 2:46 to stop the run, but Watson again found the net in response to give the Dolphins a five-goal lead at the half.
The second half started with a Bryce Wojnovich goal, that was answered just eight seconds later by Dylan Bedell on Marist.  Greiner and Galloway then scored twice in the next 12 minutes and Jacksonville found themselves up 10-3 with 4:17 left in the quarter. A Marist goal at 3:39 of the third quarter was countered by another first collegiate goal; this time by Nicky Brown, to maintain JU’s six goal lead into the fourth quarter.

Jojo Pirreca scored first in the fourth for Marist, only to be answered by Jackson Intrieri two minutes later. Taylor, who assisted Intrieri’s goal, ripped a shot into the cage with four minutes left and give Jacksonville a 13-5 lead. JU dominated the last few minutes of the game with possession and ultimately held the eight goal lead until the end.

COACH’S COMMENTS

“Today was an important step for us to win the best of three series in February,” said head coach John Galloway on his teams 2-1 record in February. “Our guys have faced a lot of adversity this preseason, and we never wavered in our approach. We have to get better in all areas if we want to achieve the goals we set forth for this team, but I am very proud of our locker room and our leaders today.”

“Offensively, I love our patience and flow early in the game,” added Galloway on his team’s offensive approach. “I thought the guys did a good job of getting Dylan his hands free, and I was happy for him to see the net shake. We have had new guys step up every week, and today was more of the same.”

“I believe our defense did a hell of a job getting stops in difficult ways,” further said the Dolphins head coach on how his team controlled the pace of the game. “Luke Millican and Jason Yoquinto were excellent in net, and the rope unit was physically tough. I have to mention Troy Hettinger and Jack Heed, who were tasked with covering two Tewaaraton finalists today, and holding them to only one goal on an extra-man-opportunity. That group continues to gel together nicely as we go into March.”

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Two Dolphins scored their first collegiate goals in Gavin Angell and Nicky Brown
Watson’s hattrick was his first in the Green and White
Deaken’s six ground balls were the most by a Jacksonville player this season
Luke Millican recorded 15 saves against the Red Foxes, the second most in his career at JU.

UP NEXT

After a week off next weekend, the Dolphins return to action on March 4th in Charlotte, North Carolina in the Crown Classic against High Point.

Sponsored