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JU: Men’s Lacrosse Gearing Up For Final SoCon Push

Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in .
thanks to Bridgette Gale, Athletic Media Relations Assistant – Jacksonville University for this press release   JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University men’s lacrosse team enters the final third of its season Saturday and it is a conference-filled stretch run for the Dolphins. JU (4-4, 1-1) first met Southern Conference opponent High Point (5-5, 1-1) back in 2013, the Panthers’ first season. They now have played three times (twice last year, one regular season, one playoff game) and the series has turned into a real rivalry as each game (the series is tied 1-1) was decided by a single goal. “Since the minute they’ve been around this has been a great rivalry,” JU coach Guy Van Arsdale said. “It’s that kind of game, it should be a very competitive and hard fought game.” The Panthers come into the game on a two-game win streak having knocked off Air Force and Furman the past two weeks. “They’re good from one of the field to the other,” Van Arsdale said. “They have three outstanding attack men and are very athletic in the midfield they run a lot of people. Defensively, they are very aggressive and are physical. Their goal keeper is one of the best around, period. Not just in our conference.” They are led by junior attacker Dan Lomas who was on the preseason Tewaaraton Watch List and has 24 goals. Sophomore Michael LeClair leads the team with 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) and junior Matt Thistle has 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists). Not only is this a rivalry game, but on top of that the conference scenario obviously plays into this final stretch. “You try to make every game the same, but let’s face it, conference means more,” Van Arsdale said. “You’d be kidding yourself if you didn’t say these put a little extra to them and they mean more. This is your chance to get to a conference tournament which is your chance to get to the NCAA tournament so that alone makes it mean more and there is no one who isn’t aware of that.” Faceoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at D. B. Milne Field and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3.– The Jacksonville University men’s lacrosse team enters the final third of its season Saturday and it is a conference-filled stretch run for the Dolphins. JU (4-4, 1-1) first met Southern Conference opponent High Point (5-5, 1-1) back in 2013, the Panthers’ first season. They now have played three times (twice last year, one regular season, one playoff game) and the series has turned into a real rivalry as each game (the series is tied 1-1) was decided by a single goal. “Since the minute they’ve been around this has been a great rivalry,” JU coach Guy Van Arsdale said. “It’s that kind of game, it should be a very competitive and hard fought game.” The Panthers come into the game on a two-game win streak having knocked off Air Force and Furman the past two weeks. “They’re good from one of the field to the other,” Van Arsdale said. “They have three outstanding attack men and are very athletic in the midfield they run a lot of people. Defensively, they are very aggressive and are physical. Their goal keeper is one of the best around, period. Not just in our conference.” They are led by junior attacker Dan Lomas who was on the preseason Tewaaraton Watch List and has 24 goals. Sophomore Michael LeClair leads the team with 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) and junior Matt Thistle has 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists). Not only is this a rivalry game, but on top of that the conference scenario obviously plays into this final stretch. “You try to make every game the same, but let’s face it, conference means more,” Van Arsdale said. “You’d be kidding yourself if you didn’t say these put a little extra to them and they mean more. This is your chance to get to a conference tournament which is your chance to get to the NCAA tournament so that alone makes it mean more and there is no one who isn’t aware of that.” Faceoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at D. B. Milne Field and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3.   ### Bridgette Gale Athletic Media Relations Assistant Jacksonville University (o):(904)-256-7761 (c): (904)-599-0801