Dolphins Claim Win Over Elon Phoenix WLAX

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Elon women’s lacrosse team fought until the end but was not able to overcome Jacksonville tonight, Feb. 20, falling to the Dolphins, 13-6, at D.B. Milne Field.

Elon (2-2) took 23 shots, 14 on goal, claimed eight draw controls and finished 9-of-12 in clear attempts. The defense forced five of the Dolphins’ nine turnovers, while the Phoenix also picked up 18 ground balls.

Abby Godfrey and Sloane Kessler each recorded two scores on the night for the Phoenix, while Molly Garrigan and Kelsey Dupere each netted a goal. Kessler also led the team with six ground balls followed by five by Alexis Zadjura. Additionally, Zadjura finished with three draw controls and three caused turnovers, both team highs. Goalie Rachel Ramirez tallied seven saves in the game and also recorded three ground balls.

After Jacksonville moved ahead 3-0, the Phoenix netted its first score of the night off a free-position goal by Godfrey at the 15:56 mark. The Dolphins moved ahead by four goals before a save by Ramirez led to a successful clear for the maroon and gold that allowed Godfrey to record her second score with 11:30 on the clock to make it a 5-2 game. While the Dolphins took five more shots in the half, Ramirez recorded two saves and JU only scored once more for a 6-2 advantage at the break.

In the second half, Elon followed a JU score with a goal by Garrigan on a free-position shot at the 24:46 mark to make it a four-goal game, 7-3. A goal by Kessler, her first of the day, helped maintain the four-point deficit, 8-4, before the Dolphins moved ahead 9-4 with 16:38 remaining in the game.

After a shot by Dupere went high, a foul on JU’s Erika Brager allowed Dupere a free-position shot in which she found the back of the net to make it a 9-5 game with 12:27 left on the clock. The Dolphins responded with three straight scores, making it 12-5, before a ground ball pickup by Kessler led to her second score of the day at the 2:44 mark. Jacksonville managed to record another goal in the final minute to give them the seven-goal advantage.

In the game, JU (2-1) claimed the advantage with 32 shots, 26 ground balls and 13 draw controls. The Dolphin scoring attack was led by three goals from Brittany Orashen and two each by Holly Ventimiglia, Jess Worcester and Danielle Dellarocca. Asia Moore claimed the win between the pipes after six goals allowed and eight saves.

Elon remains in Florida to play at Stetson in its next game on Sunday, Feb. 22, in a 2 p.m. start in DeLand, Fla.