Utah Lacrosse Wins Second Straight ASUN Championship, Beating Jacksonville 16-13

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The University of Utah Lacrosse team won the ASUN Championship for the second straight season today with its 16-13 win over Jacksonville, earning an automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championships. Utah improved to 12-4 overall, tying the school record for single-season wins.

After leading by as many as seven goals early in the fourth quarter, Jacksonville went on a late rally, scoring five unanswered to make it a two-point game with less than four minutes to play. It would be Utah's defense and goalkeeper, Colin Lenskold, that would hold the Dolphins at bay for the final minutes of the game, allowing Jared Andreala to sneak Utah's 16th goal in with just 18 seconds to go to seal the victory.

Sophomore Ryan Stines was named tournament MVP with Joey Boylston, Tyler Bradbury, Nikko DiPonio and Lenskold also earning All-Tournament honors.

Utah has scored 15-or-more goals in six straight games, wrapping up today's game with 40 shots that included 27 on goal. Utah also had 34 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers along with 14 faceoff wins.

GAME LEADERS
Stines led the Utes with five goals against the Dolphins, giving him 47 goals on the season and his third straight game with two-or-more. Bradbury also added four points on three goals and an assist with Andreala contributing a hat trick of his own.

Faceoff specialist Tyler Kloeckl led the team in ground balls with eight to go along with his 14 faceoff wins. Sophomore DiPonio finished the game with a career-high two assists, four ground balls and three caused turnovers with freshman Mikey Crane adding three caused turnovers as well.

In goal, Lenskold finished the game with 16 saves, which ties for the third-most in school history.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Ryan Stines' five goals today against Jacksonville gives him 47 total this season, moving him into second all-time at Utah. He needs three more to break the school record that is held by Jordan Hyde (49 in 2023).
• With his five goals, Stines now has 63 total points this season, breaking the single-season record at Utah by passing Tyler Bradbury's 62 in 2022.
• Utah has had 10-or-more caused turnovers in five straight games, giving the Utes 161 total, setting a new single-season record at Utah.
• After Joey Boylston set the single-season caused turnover record in the semifinal game against Cleveland State, Nikko DiPonio passed him today with his three against Jacksonville, giving him 32 on the season.
• Utah is now 46-8 all-time against the current members of the ASUN.

 
UP NEXT
The Utes will find out where they are headed for the 2024 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championships tonight during the selection show. The show will start at 7:30 p.m. MT and will air on ESPN2.