JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The Jacksonville women's soccer team opened the season with a strong performance in what was a 4-1 victory over Alabama State on Friday night.

GOALS (ASSISTS)
10' Anaya Black (Beyonce Robinson)

34' Nya Bridgewater

55' Kensley Simmons

57' Ines Martin (Mariyah McCrae)

60' Lillian Young

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

With drums playing in the stands and the sun setting on a beautiful Florida evening at Southern Oak Stadium, the theme for the start of the Dolphins' 2023 season was youth. Jacksonville used debut goals from their freshmen, Nya Bridgewater, Kensley Simmons, and Ines Martin, to claim a victory at the start of the season. Bridgewater's goal came less than 15 minutes into her debut as she cut across the 18-yard box and placed a left-footed shot to the right of the Hornets' keeper, scoring what would be the eventual game-winner in the 34^th minute. Although Alabama State responded 10 minutes into the second half at the 55-minute mark, it took Jacksonville just two minutes to counter the adversity. Maryiah McCrae, another JU freshman, placed a perfectly weighted pass across the front of the goal and found a soaring Martin, who headed the ball back the way it came and into the top right corner, giving Jacksonville its two-goal insurance lead back.

Lillian Young added the exclamation point to the home opener as she hammered home her first career goal in the 60^th minute with a shot that put the Dolphins ahead by three goals for good.

While Jacksonville spread their goals throughout the game, it took the Dolphins only 10 minutes to find the back of the net to start. Beyonce Robinson sent teammate Anaya Black soaring past the Alabama State defense for a breakaway, and Black made the most of her opportunity to score the first JU goal of the season.

Not to be overlooked was Aubrey DeJong, another freshman from the team's talented class, who started her first career goal in the net and surrendered just one goal to pick up her first collegiate victory.

WHAT THEY SAID

ADDITIONAL NOTES

·       19 JU freshmen made their collegiate debut while four started their first career game

·       Jacksonville's offense generated 25 shots to ASU's eight.

UP NEXT

The Dolphins return to the pitch in Columbia, South Carolina on Sunday, August 20^th. The game is slated for a 1 pm kickoff time and can be watched on SECN+