Utah Lacrosse Picks Up Top 10 Win Over No. 8 Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Utah Lacrosse program notched its first top-10 win in school history today, beating the No. 8 Jacksonville Dolphins on the road, 16-10. The Utes improved to 3-1 overall this season, its best start since the program started in 2019.

After trailing 4-0 to start the game, Utah put its foot on the gas and didn't let up until the final second clicked off the clock. The win marked its third straight road win, and second ranked win of the season, the most by the Utes since the team moved to Division I in 2019.

The Utes out-shot the Dolphins 44-32, putting constant pressure on the Jacksonville defense while also recording more ground balls in the game at 34-32. Entering the game, Jacksonville was only allowing 10.5 points per game with the Utes' 16 goals being the most the Dolphins have allowed this season.

GAME LEADERS
Utah's 16 goals is the third-most scored in school history and the most the Utes have put up since 2020 with nine different players scoring, including five of those being multi-goal performances. The Utes were led by Tyler Bradbury, who recorded a career-high four goals, adding two assists for a season-best six points.

MJ McMahon scored a career-high five points with his two goals, adding a career-high three assists in the game. Rounding out Utah's scorers in the game were Ruben Santana (2 goals, 1 assist), Josh Stout (2 goals), Jordan Hyde (2 goals), Josh Rose (1 goal, 1 assist), Koa Todd (1 goal), Jared Andreala (1 goal, 1 assist) and Colby Plotts (1 goal).

Samuel Cambere once again led the Utes in ground balls, racking up seven, with faceoff specialist and midfielder Cole Brams also adding seven. Cambere also contributed a team-high two caused turnovers in the game. In goal, Zion Dechesere picked up 10 saves on 10 goals against, producing a 50% save average.

FIRST QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Jacksonville opened the game on a 4-0 run, scoring on its first four shots of the game to put the Utes on their heels. Utah kept its composure though, chipping away at the lead with a 3-0 run on goals from Bradbury, Hyde and Santana to make it 4-3 with 5:32 on the clock.

The Dolphins would counter with a goal of its own to give them a 5-3 advantage with under five to play in the quarter, but McMahon would have the answer. He would make it a one-point game on a no-look diving shot, followed by the game-tying goal with 15 seconds left to make it 5-5 heading into the second quarter.

SECOND QUARTER BREAKDOWN
The Utes held the Dolphins scoreless in the second quarter with Dechesere coming up with three pivotal saves during the period. Utah also outshot Jacksonville in the second quarter, 12-8, with the Dolphins also committing five turnovers during the period.

Bradbury would score his second goal of the game with 9:51 to go in the second quarter with the Utes holding the Dolphins to zero points for the remainder of the half.

THIRD QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Utah would extend its lead to 8-5 early in the third quarter on goals by Stout and Todd before Jacksonville would score its first goal in over 20 minutes, cutting the Utes lead to 8-6 with 9:04 on the clock.

The Dolphins made it a one-point game with 5:49 remaining in the period, but the Utes would once again answer as Rose would score his lone goal of the game with an assist from Brams. Jacksonville would counter again with a goal of their own, but Utah would score three unanswered from Stout, Santana and Bradbury to take a 12-8 lead into the final quarter.  

FOURTH QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Utah had six shots on goal in the fourth quarter, scoring on four of those attempts while also winning the ground ball battle at 10-6. Plotts scored his second goal of the season before Hyde found the back of the net for the second time in the game at the 8:09 mark to give Utah a 14-8 advantage.

Jacksonville cut the Utah lead to four with 2:08 to go, but the Utes would score two unanswered from Bradbury and Andreala to end the game, giving them the 16-10 victory.

UP NEXT
The Utes will stay on the road during spring break, taking on the UMBC Retrievers on Friday, March 11 at 5 p.m. MT.