JU Women Drop ASUN Title Game to Coastal Carolina 10-9 as 2ndH 5-1 Run Holds up for CC; Samuels 3G/1A, Ellis 2G/2A for JU, Manley 3G for CC, JU Misses NCAA Tourney for 1st Time Since 2016
Dolphins Comeback Falls Short in ASUN Championship
via JU press release/website, by Nieja Jordan
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After an undefeated regular season in the ASUN, the Jacksonville University women’s lacrosse team fell 10-9 to Coastal Carolina in the ASUN Championship game. JU scored two straight late, but needed three, losing by one.
SCORING LEADERS
GOALS: Brianna Samuels (3); Lauren Ellis (2)
DRAW CONTROLS: Abby Moran (8); Maggie Cuddy (2)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Coastal Carolina jumped out to a quick start, earning a 4-1 advantage in the first quarter. Ainsley Scruggs put Jacksonville on the board with 11:47 left in the first quarter, tying it at 1-1. Three straight for the Chanticleers from the 7:24 mark to 3:37 remaining in the first got CCU off and running.
In the second, the Dolphins had an answer, matching the Chanticleer’s first-quarter output as Lauren Ellis, Brianna Samuels, and Mackenzie Boyle scored within three minutes of each other, tying the game at 4-4. Coastal Carolina retook the lead with 1:55 left in the opening half, but Jenna Peed would not be denied 39 seconds later, tying things up 5-5 at the halftime break.
The third quarter started with a bang as Hudson Gentile scored just 44 seconds in, giving Jacksonville the lead. However, a scoring drought for both teams lasting eight minutes was broken by Coastal Carolina at the 6:23 mark, securing the lead for the Chanticleers.
The CCU goal to take the lead would be the first of a three-goal run, ended by Brianna Samuels with just under one second left in the quarter to cut the deficit back to one entering the fourth quarter.
Two straight goals to open the fourth quarter for the Chanticleers made it a three-goal lead with 8:29 left in the game. Lauren Ellis found one with 5:31 remaining to cut the deficit to two before Brianna Samuels came through again to pull within one with 1:29 left on the clock.
A draw-control win for CCU ticked more time off the clock. JU got the ball with just eight seconds remaining after the shot clock expired on the CCU possession. A last-second heave down the field came up short as Coastal Carolina took the conference championship victory.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- It was the first and only loss to an ASUN program this season.
- Jacksonville’s streak of six consecutive conference tournament titles come to an end.
- The Dolphins had six different goal scorers in the game.
