thanks to Bridgette Gale, Athletic Media Relations Assistant – Jacksonville University for this press release   Jacksonville Exits NCAA Tournament with Loss to UMass COLLEGE PARK, Md.— The best season in school history came to an unfortunate end on Friday as the Jacksonville University women’s lacrosse team exited the NCAA Tournament with a 13-8 opening round loss to the University of Massachusetts. The defeat ended a program best 11 game win streak as the Dolphins (17-3) close out the season with a school record 17 wins along with new single season bests of 467 total points and 156 assists. The defense also surrendered a program low 146 goals against. Making a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance, Jacksonville was battled tested and ready to go from the opening draw at the University of Maryland’s Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex. The team matched UMass in a back and forth affair for the first 28 minutes before three quick strikes in the final 1:16 of the half gave the Minutewomen a 6-3 lead at halftime.  In the second half the Dolphins quickly fell behind 7-3, but would cut the deficit back down to a pair of goals three times in the second half. Jacksonville trailed only 9-7 after a Danielle Della Roccagoal with 14:26 left to play. That would be as close as they would get however as the nation’s No. 2 scoring defense lived up to its billing holding the vaulted Dolphins offense to just a single goal the remainder of the game. The Minutewomen (19-1) held a 16-7 edge in draw controls, including four straight to close out the first half that led to the decisive 3-0 run by UMass. Della Rocca had three goals and one assists to lead the Dolphins as she ends the year with single season school marks of 55 goal, 29 assists and 84 total points. Brittney Orashen added two goals and also secured four groundballs and caused three turnovers. She set school marks for ground balls (48) and caused turnovers (31). Senior Holly Ventimiglia ends her career as the Dolphins all-time leader with 78 career games played as she appeared in every game over the course of her four year career guiding the program to a 59-19 record (.756).   ### Bridgette Gale Athletic Media Relations Assistant Jacksonville University (o):(904)-256-7761 (c): (904)-599-0801