Dolphin destination: Jacksonville University lacrosse to open NCAA Tournament vs. Gators
Jacksonville University's road to the women's lacrosse championship begins just a couple of hours from home.
The Dolphins landed an opening-round NCAA Tournament matchup against the University of Florida at Donald R. Dizney Stadium in Gainesville during Sunday night's bracket release for the 29-team event.
The Sunshine State rivals are scheduled to face off at 4 p.m. Friday. Fans can view the game online through ESPN+.
The winner would advance to the second round against either Notre Dame or Mercer, which would also take place in Gainesville.
Florida (16-3), which received the NCAA's No. 6 seed, stands eighth in the April 30 edition of the women's RPI compared to Jacksonville in 32nd.
Bartram Trail repeats: Bears edge St. Thomas Aquinas, repeat FHSAA girls lacrosse title
Sharks stopped: Lake Highland Prep edges Ponte Vedra in FHSAA girls lacrosse semifinal
NCAA lacrosse history grows for Jacksonville University
The Dolphins, who won the ASUN tournament against Liberty in double overtime on Saturday, qualify for their ninth NCAA Tournament and their first under head coach Tara Singleton, who took over from longtime coach Mindy McCord in June.
JU has previously reached the NCAA field in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022, with Gainesville as the Dolphins' most frequent postseason destination (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022).
The tournament bid continues JU's streak of success in the sport, with 13 consecutive winning seasons stretching back to 2011. The Dolphins' last two NCAA visits have included first-round wins, beating Vanderbilt in 2021 and Stanford in 2022.
What is the history of the JU-Florida women's lacrosse series?
The Gators top the all-time series 13-1, but the Dolphins' lone victory was one to remember: On March 13, 2021, they edged Florida 12-11 for their first-ever win over a nationally-ranked opponent.
JU (12-7) has already battled the Gators once this season. On April 26, Florida built a four-goal edge in the opening quarter and went on to down the Dolphins 16-11, led by five goals from Maggi Hall.
Florida slammed JU's tournament run to a halt at the Sweet 16 stage in each of the last two seasons, although the 2022 contest was a tight one, 15-10. The Gators defeated the Dolphins 17-3 in their 2021 tournament meeting.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Women's college lacrosse: NCAA matchup, Jacksonville at Florida Gators
