» Box Score

Sophomore midfielder Liz Fink recorded two first-half goals to help lead the JU women’s soccer team past Kennesaw State, 3-1, in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Sunday afternoon at the Ashley Sports Complex.

Fink put the Dolphins (6-6, 3-1 A-Sun) up early by scoring on cross from the right side and called her own number for a goal with less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Freshman midfielder Emily Culbreth scored her first collegiate goal in the 87th minute to help put the match out of reach, while sophomore goalie Alexa Rooney (4-6) made eight stops to secure the victory between the post.

The Owls (5-5, 3-2) got a second-half goal from sophomore midfielder Lauren Ruffini and outshot the Dolphins, 15-5, in the final frame, but they couldn’t inch any closer.

“We played very well against a talented Kennesaw State team today,” said JU head coach Brian Copham. “They are a well-coached squad and I’m happy we rose to the occasion to get this victory. It’s good to see us playing this well late into the conference schedule and hopefully we can keep it up as we head into next weekend.”

Less than six minutes into the match, freshman midfielder Becca Massip launched a pass down the field to freshman forward Lisa Hensley who delivered a cross from the left side to Fink and she hit the ball in bottom of the net to give the Dolphins a 1-0 lead.

In the 36th minute, junior Jelena Vrcelj served the ball from a corner kick into a crowed box that was cleared out by the Owls. Fink grabbed the loose ball and turned to fire a high shot which found the back right corner of the net for her second score of the day.

The Owls got on the scoreboard less than eight minutes into the second half as Ruffini headed a ball in the goal off a corner kick from senior forward Caitlin Dingle.

After three straight corner kicks in the 85th minute, the Owls almost found a way to tie the match when sophomore midfielder Brittany Vining headed a ball to the goal with Rooney out of position, but one of JU’s defenders cleared it out. Just seconds later, Rooney worked her way back to make a save against sophomore midfielder Maylee Attin-Johnson’s shot attempt.

The Dolphins took advantage of the good defensive play in the 87th minute after Culbreth scored from 15-yards out on a pass from Vrcelj.

The Dolphins are back on the field next weekend as they head south to take on Florida Gulf Coast on Friday evening and Stetson on Sunday afternoon.