JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sparked by a second-half rally and a handful of highlight-reel goals, the Jacksonville University men's lacrosse team was unable to overcome a strong first quarter from Marquette as the Dolphins ran out of time in a 14-12 decision Friday evening at D.B. Milne Field.
With Jacksonville marred by a trio of penalties in the opening quarter, the visiting Golden Eagles found a way to capitalize on the extra-man opportunities early with a 6-1 head start after the first 15 minutes.
Willing a spark in the Dolphins' offense, Evan Tyler had a hand in all three of JU's first-half goals. The junior captain posted Jacksonville's lone goal in the first quarter with 8:22 showing before he dished a pass to sophomore Jeremy Winston with 8:16 in the second quarter to make it a four-goal game, 6-2. Tyler then finished a shot with 1:52 left in the half to keep the differential heading into the locker room, 7-3.
The hosts came out of the locker room inspired and outscored Marquette 9-7 in the second half. As a Golden Eagle cross-checking penalty carried over into the third quarter, sophomore Jack Dolan capitalized on the chance just 17 seconds into the third. He added a second tally just 2:27 later to make it a two-goal game, 7-5.
Perhaps the most impressive finish, however, came just over a minute later as senior captain Eric Applegate found Will Burckley behind X. The sophomore fed freshman Bo BowHunter in front of the cage, who then buried a snapshot-worthy behind-the-back shot past Marquette's keeper to bring the game within one.
BowHunter returned the favor and found Tyler with 9:15 showing – an answer to a Golden Eagle goal less than a minute prior (10:21). As Marquette fought to stay ahead, Tyler (5:35) and Dolan (3:02) posted back-to-back goals in the waning minutes of the third – solidifying Dolan's hat trick in just 11 minutes and 40 seconds – as JU curbed a three-goal run from the visitors, 11-9.
The visitors recorded the final tally in the third with four seconds remaining and the opening mark of the fourth, just 15 seconds in, for a 13-9 advantage. Not to be deterred, the Dolphins again answered back – this time with three of the final four goals from freshman Jack Pucci (13:01), junior Alec Drosos (4:59) and Tyler's fifth goal of the game (3:03). Despite battling to the final whistle and testing MU goalie John Hulsman with a pair of shots in the final 10 seconds, Marquette managed to escape Duval, 14-12. Tyler finished the day with a career-high six points.
The Dolphin defense caused 10 of Marquette's 15 turnovers, as freshman Jordan Young, redshirt-sophomore Tommy Barnhorst, and Dolan caused two turnovers each. Senior goalie Hunter Sells posted a team-high three ground balls en route to a six-save performance.
The Dolphins’ next test comes against Michigan next Saturday, Feb. 23, in the 2019 Moe's Lacrosse Classic. The game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network, and tickets are available at JUTickets.com. Opening face-off is slated for 11:30 a.m.