Dolphins Enter NLC Play, Record Win in Tow
from press release
JACKSONVILLE, Fla -- Jacksonville women's lacrosse coach Mindy McCord talked about the importance of playing at a high level before conference play began. The Dolphins heeded that advice, posting the largest margin of victory in program history with a 22-2 win over Long Island University on Wednesday afternoon at D.B. Milne Field.
Freshman Morgan Derner nearly quadrupled the entire Blackbirds
offensive output with a career-best seven goals. The attacker added
an assist for an eight-point game to lift JU to 5-4 overall in its
final non-conference matchup before commencing play in the National
Lacrosse Conference. LIU was out-shot, 37-11, as the Blackbirds
fell to 0-4.
Amanda Hurley, Abigail Warnken and Melissa Jaworski each scored two
goals off the bench. Twelve players total registered at least one
goal as the Dolphins won for the second time in its last three
games.
“We had an opportunity to move over .500 with this game and
use our experience from our last eight games to focus and correct
our mistakes,” McCord said. “I thought we did an
excellent job executing the game plan and I’m pleased we were
able to give our bench some valuable experience.”
The 20-goal differential was the highest in the two-year history of
JU women’s lacrosse, beating the previous record of 17 that
came in a 19-2 victory over Liberty last year. The current Dolphins
also tied a record from that contest for the fewest goals
allowed.
JU opened a 4-0 lead just 10:33 in. Derner factored in three of
those goals, scoring twice and assisting on Jen Cosgrove’s
marker at 22:56. Derner scored six of her seven goals in the
opening half to help the Dolphins to a 14-1 edge at the break.
The Dolphins dominated possession time throughout, winning 16-of-26
draw controls while forcing nine missed clears for the Blackbirds.
Hurley, Jaworski and Warnken all scored on their lone free-position
attempts. JU also won the ground-ball battle, 29-13.
Eight players compiled multi-point games for the Dolphins. Cosgrove
finished with a goal and an assist while other Dolphins netted
persona milestones.
Freshman Angela Sperbeck scored her first collegiate goal, firing
an unassisted goal past LIU goalie Gina Haber with 7:10 remaining.
Sophomore Katelyn Thompson scored her first goal of 2011 in her
first appearance of the year, adding the final marker with 3:36
left.
Carly Garrison also scored her first goal of the campaign as JU
moved one win away from tying its high-water mark of two games
over. 500 for the season.
JU will start NLC play when it hosts High Point on March 25 at 4
p.m.
