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KENNESAW, Ga. – Behind the play of junior
Shannon Harrington and freshman goalkeeper
Mia Nardi, Kennesaw State women's lacrosse took perennial conference power Jacksonville to the final minutes in a tight Atlantic Sun battle on Thursday afternoon before eventually falling by a 14-12 score at Fifth Third Stadium. In what was by far the closest game ever in the all-time series between the two teams, KSU dropped to 5-8 overall, 1-2 in league play while the Dolphins improved to 6-4, 2-0 in the ASUN.
KEY PLAYERS: Harrington led all scorers with a career-high tying six goals. Freshman
Lexi Tinker added three goals for a hat trick as well for KSU. Nardi, coming off a 15-save performance in her last outing, posted 13 saves against the Dolphins while playing all 60 minutes in goal and posted a .481 save percentage.
THE RUNDOWN: It was a tight game in the first quarter, with five ties and three lead changes. Harrington scored the Owls' first two goals, and
Lavona Watkins scored at 6:46 of the first quarter for a 3-2 KSU advantage. KSU tied the game at 4-4 and 5-5, but then the Dolphins reeled off five unanswered goals, the final one coming at the halftime buzzer, for a 10-5 lead going into the break. The Owls answered back to start the third quarter, scoring three straight to close within 10-8 with ten minutes on the clock. JU countered with three straight goals of its own, going up 13-8 with 2:10 left to play in the third. KSU would only allow one more goal the rest of the way and scored four goals over the next 13 minutes to close the margin to 14-12 with 4:13 to go. The Owls had a chance to make it a one-score game in the final minutes but their shot was off the mark, and JU was able to run down the clock to hold on for the win.
POSTGAME QUOTES – HEAD COACH LAURA MANESS
"Today proved that we are ready and prepared to play anyone, it does not matter historically how we have played some teams, this 2025 Owl team is ready to fight anyone in the conference. Mia, coming off her defensive player of the week after last week's win, coming in and making 13 saves, huge for us. Aria Harmon coming in off the bench and putting in a goal was also big for us, she's really coming on for us lately. Defensively, Kendal Ellison was everywhere in the back field, and
Devon Webb and
Aislinn Pendergast shined as well today especially on our clears.
NOTES
-Prior to Thursday's contest, the most goals the Owls had ever scored in the 14-game series against Jacksonville was eight, and the closest margin had been an 11-goal loss, which was last year's 17-6 contest in Jacksonville. This also marked the fewest goals the Owls have ever given up to the Dolphins all-time.
-KSU finished 3-8 on free position attempts, while the Dolphins were 0-3. KSU also narrowly lost the turnover battle 11-10.
-JU held a key advantage in draw controls at 19-10. That included a commanding 13-3 margin in the first half, KSU came back to win seven of 13 in the second half to help fuel its rally.
NEXT UP: The Owls are back in action on Saturday morning with an 11 a.m. contest against Queens in Charlotte. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
