thanks to Bridgette Gale, Athletic Media Relations Assistant – Jacksonville University for this press release   JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Southern Conference men’s lacrosse scheduled says the league playoffs don’t begin for a couple more weeks but for Jacksonville University the playoffs clearly begin now. The Dolphins (4-6, 1-3) have lost four consecutive games, yet, still are alive in the playoff chase with a pair to play and must win both to get in. The first step in the battle is a trip to tied-for-the-league-lead Mercer Saturday at noon in Macon, Ga. “This is to keep us in the mix, you’ve got to win,” coach Guy Van Arsdale said. “That’s flat out it, we’ve got to win; we don’t have much choice. Let’s see how we handle that and react to that. I have faith our guys will handle it well.” JU currently sits in sixth place, the league takes four to the playoffs, a game behind both High Point and Bellarmine (both 2-2) and a half game behind next week’s opponent, Furman (2-3). The Dolphins have lost to both High Point and Bellarmine and need one of those teams to falter. Mercer, a team to which JU hasn’t lost in four meetings, has won four games this season, all in conference (4-6 overall) and is tied with Richmond at the top of the heap at 4-0 in SoCon. “Obviously, they get themselves focused for conference and they understand what’s important,” Van Arsdale said. “They play with a lot of energy and have some guys who can shoot. They have a tremendous goal keeper (junior Mike Nugent) who may be the best goal keeper in our conference. They ride his back quite a ways.” Van Arsdale said his team is fully aware of the situation. “It’s not lost on our guys,” he said. “Mercer is always a game we get excited for and consider a rivalry and we get a chance to play lacrosse which is what they work for all week. We’ve had a great week of preparation and have worked very hard. As a coach you couldn’t ask anymore.” “We need this one as tight on the ropes as we are now,” senior defenseman Charlie Archer said. “With Mercer being one of the top contenders in our conference, we have to come out firing from the first whistle which we’ve have a problem with in the past, especially the last three weeks. This is like the Super Bowl for us right now.” Game time is noon and the contest is scheduled to be shown on ESPN3.   Bridgette Gale Athletic Media Relations Assistant Jacksonville University (o):(904)-256-7761 (c): (904)-599-0801