Date Posted: 11/15/2007

DeLAND, Fla. - The top-seeded Jacksonville Dolphins scored a pair of first-half goals, withstood a furious Lipscomb rally then added an insurance goal in a 3-2 victory in the opening semifinal match of the Atlantic Sun Men's Soccer Championship, presented by Bealls Outlet on Thursday at the Stetson Soccer Complex.

Jacksonville's two first-half goals came within a 15-minute span. Sophomore Stefan Runeman, an All-Atlantic Sun Second-Team member, opened the scoring with a goal past Lipscomb keeper Jake Goergen following a scramble after a free kick. The goal, his second of the season, improved the Dolphins mark when scoring first to 11-2.

The Dolphins (11-7-1) lead would double 15 minutes later when Jonathon Jackson found the back of the net for the first time this season. He capitalized on a beautifully served pass from Eddie Munnelly.

"Our right back, Eddie Munnelly passed me the ball, I turned and he told me to shoot, so I shot with my right foot and it was a good goal," Jackson said. "I was very happy when I scored it."

Lipscomb (6-12-3) cut into the lead in the final minute of the first half. For the second straight game, Ben Page a member of the All-Atlantic Sun First-Team scored on a penalty kick. Like in their quarterfinal match, the Bisons earned the penalty following a foul called while Miguel DaSilva advanced towards the net.

"The momentum swings when you give up a late goal and it swings to a team that was maybe getting it handed to them," Coach of the Year Mike Johnson said. "I don’t think we were as clean or as good as we can be, but we were good enough to win. Tonight we were a little disorganized and I don’t know what it was."

As ominous clouds descended on the Stetson Soccer Complex, Lipscomb gave itself several chances to level the score throughout the second half. Its best chance came in the 63rd minute when Page fired a shot from point-blank range, but JU's Second-Team All-Atlantic Sun Matt Gilman keeper made a quick-reflex save to preserve the one-goal lead.

The Dolphins appeared to salt away the victory when Phillip Meyner found the back of the net in the 80th minute for his third tally of the year. However, the Bisons had one final attack in them as DaSilva extended his Lipscomb single-season goal record to 10 when he scored in the game's final minute.

The Dolphins advance to Saturday's final for the first time in six years. The Dolphins lone Championship title came in 1998, but the victory had to be vacated due to NCAA sanctions. They extended the success the No. 1 seeds have enjoyed in semifinal matches. The top seed has won seven of their last eight semifinal matches

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

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