JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Bellarmine lacrosse team finishes their regular season Saturday on the road at Jacksonville. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m. ET at Rock Stadium.
 
Bellarmine (9-6, 5-3 ASUN) is locked into the four seed in next week's ASUN Championship. Meanwhile, Jacksonville (10-4, 7-1 ASUN) is in a three-way tie for first with Utah and Air Force.
 
"Saturday will be an interesting game," said Bellarmine head coach Andrew Whitley. "Jacksonville is playing great lacrosse and definitely has a lot to play for."
 
The Knights are 4-7 all-time against the Dolphins. Bellarmine won the first four meetings between 2010 and 2016, but has dropped seven straight to Jacksonville since 2017. The Knights last beat the Dolphins 10-9 in northern Florida on March 19, 2016.
 
"We haven't beaten the Dolphins since 2016 though we've had a couple of opportunities the last few seasons, 2021 and 2023 in particular," Whitley said.
 
In 2021 at Jacksonville, the Dolphins scored the final two goals of the game over the last six minutes en route to a low-scoring 8-7 win.
 
Last season, Jacksonville was victorious at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium 13-12. It was a game of runs by both teams. Wilson Murphree scored with 23 seconds left to bring the Knights within one. Bellarmine then won the ensuing faceoff, but was unable to net the equalizer. Murphree, Christian Della Rocco, Tayo Oladunmoye and Pat Anderson posted three points apiece in that contest.
 
Defense has been the name of the game in recent seasons for the Dolphins. This year, Jacksonville finds themselves with the top defense in Division I, allowing 7.50 goals per game, after finishing second in 2022 and ninth in 2023. Their scoring allowance is a full goal better than the second-best team in the country, Towson at 8.54 goals per game. Goalie Ryan Della Rocco has been a big reason for their success.
 
"They are led by one of the best goalies in the conference in Ryan Della Rocco," Whitley said. "He has been playing at an extremely high level this year and has settled in as the foundational piece to an extremely talented defense. I know Christian is extremely excited to play against his brother for the first time in a meaningful situation. The first 'Della Rocco Bowl' will definitely have a spirited feel."
 
Ryan Della Rocco is eighth in Division I with his .570 save percentage.
 
Offensively, Jacksonville is leads the ASUN averaging 13.64 goals per game.
 
"Their attack is really starting to find their groove over the past few weeks and as a result, Jacksonville has really hit their stride," Whitley said. "Jacob Greiner has been a proven commodity since he arrived at Jacksonville and is potentially having his best season as a collegiate. Nicky Brown has burst onto the scene as an extremely effective dodger and is turning into an impactful scorer. Jackson Intrieri continues to be as good a facilitator as there is in the ASUN and has elevated his game to completely new heights. The development of the unit has been extremely impressive and has been a central cog as Jacksonville has not missed a beat this season."
 
Greiner is fourth in the ASUN averaging 3.64 points per game. Intrieri and Brown have scored 29 and 28 goals, respectively, and Brown leads the Dolphins with 20 assists.  
 
Nathan Kapp leads the faceoff unit for Jacksonville and is second in the ASUN with a .575 faceoff winning percentage.
 
"Nathan Kapp is having a terrific season at the faceoff X and has really helped Jacksonville tilt the field at times this year in the possession battle," Whitley said. "Last season, Grant Guthrie went toe-to-toe with Kapp and I would imagine we'll need all three of our faceoff guys (Guthrie along with Aidan Fearn and Cole Messick) to win the battle at the X this year. The team that gets the best of that facet of the game could have a significant advantage in determining the victor on Saturday."
 
Guthrie went 12-for-23 with 8 groundballs last season against Jacksonville. The teams split faceoffs 14-14 overall.
 
"We are excited to wrap up the regular season against a longtime rival as we head into the ASUN tournament on Tuesday," Whitley concluded.
 
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